One Dollar Can Make a Huge Difference

If you read this blog with any regularity, then you may have noticed that I talk about snacks a lot.

If you are responsible for buying groceries in your household, then you’ve probably noticed that the cost of food has gone up.

Both of those are intertwined.

It may not seem like a huge thing to offer snacks to students. In some cases, it may seem frivolous or “extra,” especially with increasing food prices, but our students appreciate the gesture so much.

When a person is hungry, this increases fatigue and irritation. Hunger also has an impact on the amount of information the brain can retain. Fueling the brain and body is essential, which is why having snacks available for our students is incredibly important.

The Cost of Providing Snacks

In a typical week, the PVLA and CCC Adult Education sees approximately 200 students attending classes. Not all of these students eat a snack every week, but having them available is beneficial.

The cost of providing snacks, including granola bars, fruit snacks, chips, and water, among others, averages about $265.00 per month.

When the numbers are broken down, it becomes apparent that providing snacks for students each month is only about $1 per student—and that’s incredibly affordable.

The funding for these delectable treats comes from generous donors. In 2023, our Snack Sponsors included the following:

Tammi Gotschall

Larry and Vicky Barcell

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

Richard and Mary Lou Stamm

Dee Condon

Duane Matson

Sylvia Coffey

So far for 2024, our Snack Sponsors are the following:

Angie Biester

Richard and Mary Lou Stamm

In addition to our Snack Sponsors, our students also contribute to the Snack Fund. We have a jar in the snack corner, and students will contribute what they can. It all ensures that there are snacks to keep our students strong while studying.

$1 Truly Can Make a Difference

$1 may not seem like a lot, but it can provide one student with a snack—and that’s a pretty big deal. As the amount of the donation increases, the number of students that are impacted also goes up.

To become a Snack Sponsor, we ask that you make a minimum donation of $260, but if that amount seems out of range, anything you donate will ensure that students have the fuel they need to keep learning.

If this sounds like an opportunity you’re interested in pursuing, there are a variety of ways you can donate funds. You can head to our online donation site and choose an amount that fits into your budget.

We also have a PayPal donation site where you can become a Snack Sponsor.

Should you prefer the “old fashioned” method of sending a check, you can mail it to:

PVLA

3020 18th St, Box 3, Suite 4
Columbus, NE 68601

Snacks Make an Impact

It’s been said before, and I’m going to say it again: Food is a love language.

Despite the rising cost of groceries, it doesn’t take much to make a student’s day. For just $1, you can ensure they have a snack that will keep them focused while they are learning.

Got questions? Fill out the form on the right-hand side of this blog or send an email to pvlacolumbusne @ yahoo.com (don’t forget to remove the spaces).

Product Donations for the PVLA

Sending money isn’t the only way to support adult ESL students. Sometimes, all they need is a bit of caffeine to jolt them awake after they’ve been at work all day, a snack to give them the energy to keep learning, or the right supplies to take notes and organize their lessons.

It’s the little things in life that make the biggest differences, and having the right supplies keeps our students studying!

Access our Walmart registry link here!

March Madness Reading Contest

In March, the PVLA challenged students to a reading contest. The rules were simple:

 Any student in any PVLA or CCC class was allowed to participate in the competition. They were asked to turn in reading logs every week, and if they did, they won a prize.

These prizes were small incentives, such as notebooks, pens, and scented candles. The “big” prizes were at the end of the contest, and these included gift cards to Walmart in increments of $20, $10, and $5.

The prizes were donated to the PVLA by an anonymous donor.

We are super happy with how the first reading contest turned out, and we thank the students for participating. The winners are as follows:

First place winner ($20 gift card): Naomi

Second place winner ($10 gift card): Tere

Third place winner ($5 gift card): Jesica

Fourth place winner: Teresa

Another Chance to Win

The PVLA will be hosting another reading contest in May, so any student that wants a chance to win a weekly prize or a “grand” prize will have an opportunity. The rules will be the same. We’re excited to see how the next one turns out.

Want to Become a Sponsor?

Making the reading contest fun doesn’t take much. If you’d like to become a sponsor, the cost is $50, or you’re more than welcome to donate in-kind items. These can include the weekly prizes or the “grand” prizes (gift cards) that are handed out at the end of the contest.

For more information, please contact the PVLA executive director through the form on the side of this blog or at pvlacolumbusne @ yahoo.com (don’t forget to remove the spaces!).

Technology to Help Teachers

You may recall that a while back, the PVLA announced that it was using Taste of Columbus funds to buy laptops for students. They have been a great addition to the classrooms, and students are getting a lot of use out of them.

In addition to providing technology for students, it also came to our attention that our instructors needed technology to do their jobs as well. In particular, our instructors needed computers for lessons when they travel to off-site class locations.

To ensure they have the tools they need to educate students, more Taste of Columbus money was used to purchase Chromebooks—and they are just as fancy as the laptops!

Thankful to Be Able to Serve Students

The PVLA is so grateful to the Columbus Chamber of Commerce for the opportunity to be involved in the Taste of Columbus. Without the funds, we wouldn’t be able to provide these essential tools that help with student learning success.

Our programs continue to grow, and with that, our teachers need resources, and that often requires funding. The PVLA has some incredibly amazing donors, and we are thankful for their continued support so that we can continue to serve students.

The Impact Made by CCC Adult Education and the PVLA

Living in Columbus, Nebraska, is an incredibly unique experience. There’s a lot of opportunity here, and it’s at a crossroads that leads to a variety of different places—both literal and figurative.

While most people are able to grab their piece of the American pie living here, there are some that find obstacles in the way. Here at the PVLA, in cooperation with CCC Adult Education, we do our best to help individuals bridge those barriers.

Some Insight Into Why What We Do Is So Important

Did you know that 11% of the population in Platte County doesn’t have a high school diploma? That can be a huge hindrance when it comes to finding high-paying jobs.

Data from Casey Family Community Opportunity Map 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 25% of the population in Columbus speaks a language other than English.

When it comes to employment in Platte County, we have a 2% unemployment rate, with a 7% poverty rate, but 27% of households are under the 200% poverty level.

Data from Casey Family Community Opportunity Map

People are working, but they are having a hard time making ends meet. What these numbers don’t show is what is holding these individuals back from living their best life, but the possibility exists that it’s education, English-speaking skills, or status.

The vast majority of Nebraskans are aware of the labor shortage. With a 2% unemployment rate, that means that everyone who wants a job, has a job. Yet, there are many, many positions in all fields throughout the state and particularly in Platte County and the surrounding area that need to be filled.

But where to find workers? There just aren’t enough individuals in the state of Nebraska to fill every role, which means that having individuals comes from outside the state, and potentially outside the country, can be incredibly beneficial.

According to the American Immigration Council, in 2021, 7.3% of Nebraska’s residents were foreign-born. They made up 9.2% of the labor force, and they contributed more than $1.2 billion dollars in taxes to the economy and had more than $3.5 billion in spending power.

 

Data from the American Immigration Council 

The largest population of immigrants in the state are aged 16 to 64, which means they are in the prime of their life and looking to start or maintain families. To do that, they need the right means, which includes having a job and community security.

Within Platte County, 11% of the population is foreign born.

Data from the Casey Family Community Opportunity Map

 

Of those in the state of Nebraska, only 69.2% of them are proficient in English. When it comes to education, 36.5% of individuals have less than a high school education. While some immigrants have a high school education and advanced degrees, due to the differences in education systems, their achievements may not always be recognized here in the U.S.

Data from the American Immigration Council 

Building Bridges Over Barriers

Individuals migrate to the U.S. for opportunity, and they come to Platte County and Columbus because there is a lot of opportunity to be had. However, to ensure they are successful in creating a secure life for themselves and their families, there are certain skills they need to attain.

The PVLA and CCC Adult Education is here to help. Our mission is to break down barriers and give people a chance to live their dreams. We empower students to obtain their educational goals and provide the skills and knowledge that they need to be successful in life.

In addition to the programs we have offered for years and years, we have started new programs, including the Integration Class, which helps newcomers to the area transition into the community and become aware of the various services that are here to help, as well as the Family Learning program, which is in place to help parents not only learn the English language but to also understand how the U.S. education system works so that they can help their children be successful.

The need for workers is only going to grow in the future. With that opportunity comes individuals who are willing, ready, and able to work—even if they weren’t born in this country. There may be barriers that stand in their way, but they aren’t permanent. There are ways to break down those obstructions and give people exactly what they need to reach their dreams, and the PVLA and CCC are proud and honored to be part of that journey.