PVLA Receives $5,000 Grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to Support Family Literacy

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) recently awarded the Platte Valley Literacy Association (PVLA) a $5,000 grant to support family literacy. The funds are a part of a record-setting, one-day donation in the Foundation’s history of more than $13.2 million to support adult, family, and summer literacy programs in the 48 states in which Dollar General operates.

“The Platte Valley Literacy Association is so thankful to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation for their support of our Family Learning program,” says Jessica Wiig, executive director of the PVLA. “This grant ensures we have what we need to ensure our students are successful in the classroom and beyond.”

The Family Learning program started in September of 2023 as a pilot at Emerson Elementary. The program was created through a partnership between the PVLA, Central Community College (CCC) Adult Education and Columbus Public Schools (CPS). The purpose of the program is to give non-English-speaking parents the opportunity to be more involved with their child’s education while learning English. The ability to speak English provides confidence in helping their child(ren) with homework, interacting within the local community and supports employment success.

In addition, the partnership with the PVLA exposes adult students in the Family Learning program to numerous organizations and services in the community. Class time is set aside for community presentations, which have included the Columbus Police Department, Center for Survivors, the Department of Labor, and Columbus Area United Way, among others.

“For over 30 years, the Foundation has been investing in literacy and basic education programs in our hometown communities,” shared Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. “Today’s grant announcement is a celebration of our unwavering commitment to student and teacher success. We are grateful to all the grant recipients for their commitment to advancing education and helping students thrive.”

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports organizations that increase access to educational programming, stimulate and enable innovation in the delivery of educational instruction and inspire a love of reading. Each year, DGLF awards funds to nonprofit organizations, schools, and libraries within a 15-mile radius of a Dollar General store or distribution center to support adult, family, summer and youth literacy programs. 

The Foundation also offers a student referral program for individuals interested in learning how to read, speak English, or prepare for the high school equivalency exam. Referrals to a local organization that provides free literacy services are available online here or through referral cards found in the Learn to Read brochures that are available at the cash register of every Dollar General store.

The Foundation also plans to launch its sixth annual The Yellow Glasses Project campaign on July 21, 2025, in which customers can purchase yellow sunglasses at Dollar General stores for $2 each to benefit the DGLF.

About the Dollar General Literacy Foundation

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is proud to support initiatives that help others improve their lives through literacy and education. Since 1993, the Foundation has awarded more than $271 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 23 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy, a general education diploma or English proficiency. Each year, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation provides financial support to schools, nonprofit organizations and libraries within a 15-mile radius of Dollar General stores and distribution centers. To learn more about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation or apply for a literacy grant, visit www.dgliteracy.org.

Cultural Conversations with the Community

On November 19, 2024, Central Community College (CCC) Adult Education hosted a Cultural Conversations with the Community event.

Students enrolled in ESL classes created poster boards about their life, and community members were invited to ask questions and learn about what brought these students to Columbus.

Two sessions were held: one in the morning, and one in the evening. These coincided with the times that the ESL classes are offered at CCC. Students at each of the levels (1/2, 3/4, and 5/6) had created boards and were available to speak to others.

The event was made possible by a mini-grant from Central Community College and funding from the Columbus Area United Way.

The Cultural Conversations with the Community went incredibly well. It was so inspiring and heartwarming to witness the interactions and hear the students speak about their lives. Here are some photos from the morning session of the event:

The Season of Giving

Photo by Liza Summer

During the holiday season, more and more people and organizations need some help to get through.

While you may have the desire and good intentions to help others, you may also be wary of handing out your hard-earned cash because you don’t want to be inundated with asks or feel like you’re being taken advantage of.

Thankfully, there are ways to get through the “fundraising season” with your sanity intact, in addition to supporting some worthy causes and keeping some money in your account. Here’s how:

Support Programs that Are Important to You

There may be a lot of places asking for money, but you don’t have to give to them all. If you won the lottery and you need some tax write-offs, then give out as much as you can. However, since the chances of you being a lottery winner are fairly low, then you’ll want to consider supporting the programs that are most important to you.

Love animals? Support a local animal shelter.

Want to see young adults become future leaders? Support a mentor program.

Enjoy youth sports? Volunteer to be a coach or send money to help pay for new uniforms.

The list of places you can support is endless, so find something that really appeals to you.

Give Within Your Means

When supporting your favorite organization, you may want to do as much as you can to ensure they have enough funds. While this is noble, you also need to live your life and have money for the things you enjoy. Giving within your means will lower your stress levels, while also boosting your good feels.

Trust us: any amount that you donate to your program of choice will have an impact—and it will be appreciated. Sure, donors who give large amounts of money get a lot of recognition, and you can certainly donate a large amount if you want, but people who give smaller amounts are just as valuable.

Encourage Others to Support

Telling your friends and family about your favorite organization(s) and encouraging them to support is a great way to increase the number of donations that are received. Remember, a large group of individuals giving smaller donations can still have a huge impact. Spread the word and get others as excited about specific programs as you are.

Being a generous person is commendable, but this time of year can be tough. It seems like no matter where you turn, someone wants some money from you. You can be selectively supportive of your favorite programs and impact people in need. No matter what you give, it’s enough.

Getting Back Into a School Schedule

Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

School started last week, and for most of us (parents), that’s a good thing. There’s something to be said about having a schedule and knowing that kids are keeping busy.

However, there can also be challenges that arise at the beginning of the school year—with the biggest being getting back on a schedule. Summer was free and fun, so having to go to bed at a specific time and getting up early can sound absolutely terrible.

Not only do kids get exhausted by this change, but school can be exhausting for parents as well. It takes a lot of energy and effort to get kids up and moving in the morning, in addition to picking them up after school and taking them to activities and/or helping them with homework.

Everyone may find themselves dragging and feeling grumpy the first few weeks of school.

Thankfully, there are some things you can do to get back into a school schedule. Here are some tips:

1. Be Consistent

One of the reasons summer is so magical (and chaotic) is because for many people, the schedule is wide open and flexible. Kids get to stay up late and sleep in. Families go on vacation and/or spend their days outside enjoying the weather.

Once school starts, that flexibility is thrown out the window. Kids and parents have to be somewhere at a specific time, which more than likely means waking up to alarms and getting a ton of stuff done before walking out of the house.

At night, there’s still a ton of stuff that needs to be done before going to bed.

Being consistent can help with the transition back to a school schedule. While no one may want to get up super early each morning, do. Then, do the same things day after day—whatever that looks like.

You also want to make sure you leave the house at the same time each day. That keeps everyone in the family moving so that they can get the day started.

Consistency at the end of the day is just as important. Over the summer, open schedules mean being outside late into the evening or watching YouTube videos for hours on end. With school in session, there is more than likely homework and other activities that keep students and parents busy. Keeping a schedule ensures that everything gets done and everyone gets to bed at a decent hour.

2. Save Some Free Time

Not only is it important to stay consistent with your schedule, but you also want to make sure you and your family have some free time. It’s much too easy to cram your schedule full of all the things—from sports to music to tutoring to whatever! However, the busier you make your schedule, the sooner everyone becomes exhausted.

Free time gives everyone a break. You know your family best, so you decide how much free time is necessary for everyone to recharge and have a little fun. You can schedule free time each and every day, or you can save it all up for the weekend—whatever works best for you!

3. Use Your Resources

Transitioning from summer back to school can be a trying time for everyone, which means that you aren’t alone when it comes to feeling overwhelmed or stressed out. No one said you had to go through that alone. That’s when using your resources can be beneficial.

What does that mean, exactly?

Well, it will be different for everyone. Maybe it means talking to some other parents and setting up a shuttle service. Ride-sharing can reduce a lot of stress and make sure everyone shows up to where they need to be on time.

For those who work late, finding a trusted babysitter can reduce a lot of worries and ensure their kids are safe.

Maybe you struggle helping your kiddo with school assignments, so finding a tutor can be beneficial for you and your child.

The scenarios are endless when it comes to needs, but know that for most concerns you have, there is a solution, as long as you ask.

Falling Back Into Routine

While the first few weeks of school may seem incredibly hectic, thankfully it doesn’t take long to fall back into a routine. Soon, everyone will be used to the new school schedule and days will flow smoothly.

Until then, do what you can to keep your head above water. You’ve got this!

The United Way Campaign

You’ve seen the posts on Facebook. You probably got an email announcement in your inbox. There have been articles in the paper. Soon, the United Way will be visiting your place of employment.

The United Way Campaign has begun.

But what exactly does this mean? Why does this event seem to crop up at the same time every year? Is there a way to avoid it?

The answers to your burning questions are included below.

What is the United Way Campaign?

To answer this question, it’s important to understand exactly what the United Way does. According to its website:

“United Way brings people together to build strong, equitable communities where everyone can thrive. As one of the world's largest privately funded charities, we serve 95% of U.S. communities and 37 countries and territories -- making life better for 48 million people every year. Through United Way, communities tackle tough challenges and work with private, public, and nonprofit partners to boost education, economic mobility, and health resources.”

To achieve those goals, they need funding.

And they get most of those funds through donations.

The mission of the Columbus Area United Way (CAUW) is to make sure community members here and in the surrounding area have what they need to be successful in life. Just like the larger United Way, to achieve those goals, they need funds—and most of the money comes from donations.

That brings us to the Campaign. After determining the needs of Community Partners, the CAUW sets out to raise the funds that ensures services are provided to those who need it.

A Variety of Ways to Get Involved

If supporting your local community is something that interests you, then donating to the CAUW might be a good idea. They partner with 15 different agencies in Platte County, as well as have direct programs that impact individuals and families.

When it comes to making a donation, there are many different ways to get involved. If you’re the type who likes to take risks and wants to potentially win some prizes, then participating in the Duck Race might be your cup of tea.

You also have the option of making a one-time donation or making multiple donations throughout the year. The CAUW even makes it easy to make year-round donations by taking pledges directly out of your paycheck.

You also get to decide where your money goes.

If you want to place your donation in the general fund, it will get divided up and distributed to the various partner agencies and programs. Should you decide you want your donation to go to a specific cause, you can designate where your money goes.

Can You Avoid the United Way Campaign?

We really hope you don’t.

We get it. It can feel cringy and uncomfortable when the United Way comes around and asks for money. You don’t want to let anyone down, but you may also feel like you can’t make a huge difference.

Let us reassure you: it doesn’t take much to make a difference.

When it comes to the Duck Race, one duck costs $10, and you have the chance to win some amazing prizes.

When it comes to donations, you can give as little or as much as you can afford. Even if you can only give $1.00 a month, you’re still doing something that impacts a member of the community. Even a one-time donation of $20 makes a difference.

Get Involved with the United Way

The United Way Campaign is underway, and we really hope you’ll find a way to get involved. As a United Way Partner Agency, the PVLA benefits from the generous donors who live in Columbus and the surrounding area—but we’re not the only ones. There are many, many organizations who work with the CAUW to make our corner of Nebraska such an amazing place to live.

Get involved today!

Taste of Columbus Funds Update Technology for the PVLA

One of the reasons why we were so excited to get Taste of Columbus money was to be able to use the funds to update the technology here at the PVLA.

Now, don’t get us wrong: we have some great technology in our classrooms. When CCC remodeled the space, they made sure we had top-of-the-line screens and desktops so that educational information could be displayed to students.

And those systems are amazing!

 However, we also needed some technology that was a bit more personal. In particular, laptops.

The laptops that the PVLA had were acquired several years ago using grant funds. They had been refurbished and were mainly used to keep students connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. While they served their purpose at the time, they were starting to show their age.

In fact, several of them had to be recycled because they died and couldn’t be brought back to life.

In addition, some of the sites and apps that we access on laptops have also been updated, and the old computers didn’t have what was needed to keep up with the changes.

Students Get the Most Out of Technology

With Taste of Columbus funds, the PVLA was able top purchase six new laptops for students—and they are fancy! They will allow students to access everything they need to be successful in their education.

These computers can be used by any and all students who come into our space. They can’t be checked out, but they can be used on-site. Whether an individual needs to study for the citizenship test, wants to get some extra ESL practice by watching videos or playing games, or needs to take a test, these new laptops can do it all.

These computers can (and more than likely will) be used when it comes to one-on-one employability skills. Students will have the opportunity to get online to search and apply for jobs that will support them and their families.

One of our new laptops is currently being used in the Conversational Spanish class to enhance lessons.

Technological Success

Here at the PVLA, we are proud and excited to be able to offer our students up-to-date technology to aid in their learning. Our classrooms may have some great technology, but being able to supplement that with laptops that offer a more personal experience can’t be beat.

We wouldn’t have been able to do this without the funds from Taste of Columbus, and we’re so honored and proud to know that the people of Columbus supported us in our endeavors. You’ve made a difference in students’ lives, and we can’t thank you enough.

The Road to Success is Paved with Snacks

Adults come to the PVLA to learn English as a second language, to become U.S. citizens, to obtain their GED, or to get one-on-one skills training to find a better job.

The majority of our students have families to care for, as well as work full-time jobs. Many either attend class and then go directly to their job or come directly from work to class.

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.

You can help an adult student achieve success by becoming a Snack Sponsor. Whether you want to donate money or products, you can make a student’s day brighter and better, and you can ensure they stay strong while studying.

As a Snack Sponsor, you will receive recognition in the Snack Corner with a sign announcing your generous donation. If you have flyers or business cards you want to share, we will display those as well. We will also post your name on our Facebook page and forever be grateful for your support.

Sponsorships are for one month at a time, with a minimum donation of $260, and will provide our students with chips, granola bars, water, Gatorade, and any other treat the budget will allow for. While donating the entire amount is always appreciated, it’s not necessary. Any amount you can give is beneficial.

The path to success starts with snacks—and knowledge. Help an adult learner achieve their dreams by becoming a Snack Sponsor today! 

You have the option of making your payment online or sending a check or money order to:

Platte Valley Literacy Association
3020 18th St, Box 3
Columbus, NE 68601

If you prefer to donate products but don’t know what to get, you can check out PVLA’s Spark Good Registry on Walmart.com. Pick some items from the list, pay for them, and they will be shipped directly to us. After making your purchase, make sure to send an email to pvlacolumbusne @ yahoo.com so that we can give you the recognition you deserve.

How to Become a Snack Sponsor for the PVLA

 

It’s a New Year, and we’re looking for supporters! One way to help adult students achieve success is by becoming a Snack Sponsor.

Food is a love language. Whether you’re cooking your family a meal or asking a friend to meet you for dessert, food is a way to let others know how much you care.

When you were a kid, more than likely, one of the highlights of your school day was snack time. There was something satisfying about taking a break from learning and indulging in a delicious treat.

Things do not change all that much once you become an adult learner. Snack time is still a time of enjoyment and indulgence. 

Here at the PVLA, adults come to us to learn English as a second language for better employment opportunities, to help their child with homework, to communicate with their children’s teachers, and to be able to talk to those of us that only speak English. 

The majority of our students also work full-time jobs and have families to care for. Many either attend class then go directly to their job or come directly from work to class.

Being able to take a break to recharge body and mind is beneficial, and you can help an adult student achieve success by becoming a Snack Sponsor. Whether you want to donate money or products, you can make a student’s day brighter and better. 

As a Snack Sponsor, you will receive recognition in the Snack Corner with a sign announcing your generous donation*. If you have flyers or business cards you want to share, we will display those as well.

Sponsorships are for one month at a time, with a donation of $260, and will provide our students with granola bars, water, Gatorade, and any other treat the budget will allow for. You can pay for your sponsorship online or send a check to:

Platte Valley Literacy Association

3020 18th St, Box 3

Columbus, NE 68601

If you prefer to donate products but don’t know what to get, you can check out PVLA’s Spark Good Registry on Walmart.com. Pick some items from the list, pay for them, and they will be shipped directly to us. After making your purchase, make sure to send an email to pvlacolumbusne @ yahoo.com so that we can give you the recognition you deserve.



*Donation receipts are available upon request.

Participating in Community Events

In addition to helping students, one of the most enjoyable things we get to do at the PVLA is participate in community events. This past weekend, we had a booth at the Back 2 School Bash presented by Centro Hispano and Platte County T4C—and we had a blast being there.

The whole premise of the event is to ensure that students have backpacks and the supplies they need for a successful school year. There’s also food and fun, as well as music and networking. From bounce houses to an extra-large “sprinkler” for kids to cool down, it was an afternoon full of excitement.

Having a booth at this event really made our day. Being able to interact with so many different members of the community and let them know what we have to offer was astounding. The day may have been hot, but by the time the event was over, there was a sense of pride and a smile that stretched from ear to ear.

Whether you’re a vendor or a participant, getting out and getting involved with the community is an incredibly rewarding experience. We do it as often as we can at the PVLA, and we hope to see all of you at some of these events.