Greenville Literacy Association’s goal is educating the community – whether that means prepping for a GED test, working on computer skills, or learning how to set up a checking account. 📖

The core of what Greenville Literacy Association does at their three learning centers is their ABE and ESL classes: Adult Basic Education and English as a Second Language. Adults in these sessions improve their literacy, but also get help in workforce readiness and moving towards a GED.

The sessions are $20 each and held four times a year (for 8 – 12 weeks), with availability to fit anyone’s schedule. They’re taught by volunteers who are often retired teachers or professors – but anyone who’s passionate can help out.

GLA also noticed a need for a more fast-tracked GED program and created their GED boot camp, which provides that extra push in a $20, 14-week session. And they realized those new to the U.S. had questions about where to find things in the grocery store or how to set up a bank account, so program managers took them on “field trips” to find out.

GLA also wants to make sure Greenvillians are prepared for the workforce, which is whey they ask businesses what you need to be a successful employee (a GED? A certificate?). And their new WIN program to earn a workforce readiness certificate starts in August.

Whew. That’s a lot. And it’s all centered around their main location at McAlister Square, where you’ve probably been to their really big, really great annual event.

~11,000 people a year shop at the Really Good, Really Big, Really Cheap Book Sale, GLA’s biggest fundraiser. 💸 And that means they need lots of books. This year’s book sale is August 10 – 12, but you can donate year-round from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at McAlister Square.

Besides volunteering to tutor + donating books, how can you help?

This summer, locations in the Upstate will accept book donations (like Starbucks, SportsClub + banks), or on May 5 you can do a “drive-thru” dropoff at their office where they’ll grab the books from the back of your car (you just pop the trunk)
Volunteer to help in the computer lab, at the book drive, with WorkKeys (the form will be online in May – June, and the program is in August) or with projects like mailings and fundraisers
Set up a book drive in your office (a box where anyone can drop off books)
Donate classroom items
Become a member of Friends of GLA (which has a fall + spring annual event – this spring’s is trivia night at Quest Brewing Co. 🍺)
Check Facebook for events, like Superhero Sunday coming up April 15 at M. Judson