Platte Valley Literacy Association receives grant from First National Bank

COLUMBUS - The Platte Valley Literacy Association (PLVA) is getting a boost from First national Bank of Omaha  in the form of a $12,000 grant.

"Oh my gosh, we're super excited whenever we get any kind of funding of course," PLVA Executive Director Mary Wiegand said. "$12,000 is a lot of cash for an organization like this."

PLVA is a nonprofit that offers adult education courses such as English as a second language, GED, and computer classes. Their goal is to give their students the skills needed to successfully enter the workforce.

The grant will go to keep PLVA’s computer program going.

"Now what we can do is focus on our students when they're here during the class time," Wiegand said. "We have a special computer room now that we're able to use. Our computer instructor can come to one of our ESL classes and just pull out two or three students at a time while they're here, and then we can focus on what they need versus what the whole class needs."

Weigand says the computer class is important because so much can be done online nowadays.

"When you go to work you have to clock in on a computer. If you want to find a job, you have to go online, and most of these places in town, you have to apply for a job online. It intimidates a lot of our students."

The program is still looking for volunteers, however.

"We need volunteers to help in the classroom. We need volunteers to help our GED students. We have a shortage of math tutors so if anybody likes math on the side come see me." 

Anyone interested in helping out can contact the Platte Valley Literacy Association at 402-562-1432 or by going to http://plattevalleyliteracy.org.