Providing Snacks for Students

One of the perks of attending classes at CCC or the PVLA is that you’re provided with snacks.

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 see 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 $300.00 per month.

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

The funding for these delectable treats comes from generous donors. So far in 2024, our Snack Sponsors are the following:

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 $300, 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 PayPal donation site.

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

We also take in-kind donations. If you prefer to purchase food items and bring them to us, we’ll take those as well.

Snacks Make an Impact

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).

The End of the Family Learning School Year

The Family Learning school year came to a close last week, and it was an incredibly successful two semesters. For some insight into how the program went, please read the following words from Lana (Family Learning instructor) and enjoy the pictures!

"If I were to summarize our year of Family Literacy in Columbus in one word, it would be community. It takes visitors only a few moments to see a strong community within our classroom walls!

The students feel comfortable enough to ask each other questions about our school system and procedures, language learning, or life in Columbus. As the first year of our Family Literacy program in Columbus comes to a close, students are already anticipating the start of classes in the Fall!

I am too.

Highlights:

*Our strong classroom community is apparent with the amount of laughter that occurs while learning a new language. Students also ask about each other when classmates are absent. Many friendships have been forged this year, and it’s apparent that students enjoy spending time together. Recently, a student wanted to learn to make lasagna, so several students got together outside of class to learn to make lasagna and eat together.

*Some students wanted to read more to build their vocabulary. We started reading Gulliver’s Travels in class this semester and finished reading the book this week! After reading Gulliver’s Travels, students shared summaries of the story and discussed whether Gulliver should return to the sea for more adventures or stay home with his family.

One student said she enjoyed the book because Gulliver had to learn a new language just like her. The students enjoyed reading, writing, and discussing a book together in class and are driven to continue learning through reading together.

*This year, we had the opportunity to meet our Superintendent, Elementary Principals, and Classroom teachers. Our families thoroughly enjoyed meeting with the school personnel, and our conversations helped build community and connection with our school personnel. The parents grew in their ability and confidence to communicate with their child’s teachers and other staff who work with their child.

*There are countless resources available to families in Columbus, and it’s easy for many to go unused! Many students noted they would like to learn how to create healthier meals. This spring, we tapped into some of our community resources and invited a couple of dietitians to speak to our class. They discussed practical ways to create healthier meals while cooking a simple yet healthy dish for our class. Students asked lots of questions and discussed how to incorporate healthier options into their meals at home.

Other community presenters visited the class to talk about their services and organizations, and students even went on field trips to locations such as the children’s museum, public library and new Field House at the YMCA."