Wilkinson Center

Adult education: from july 2019 through june 2020, Wilkinson Center's adult education program served 1,239 students. Courses include adult basic education, high school equivalency (ged preparation), english as a second language (esl), career-readiness, job certifications, and financial education. 566 esl learners completed an average of 51 class hours each. 78% who participated in both pre-testing and post-testing, progressed at least one educational functioning level. 668 hse learners completed on average of 61 class hours each. 41% who participated in both pre-testing and post-testing, progressed at least one educational functioning level. 59 students obtained their high school equivalency (hse) diploma. 57% of clients who received career-readiness services obtained employment at an average wage of 12.27 per hour. Nearly 37% earned 13.00 per hour or more. Wilkinson Center offers a variety of support services to eliminate barriers to student success. Support services include: 1.case management 2.financial and employment coaching 3.access to our food & emergency services 4.free, on-site hse/ged tests and additional certification tests

Program highlights food & emergency services: Wilkinson Center's food pantry provides one week's worth of groceries once monthly to individuals and families who meet income and residency eligibility guidelines. Due to the pandemic food was delivered pre-boxed and served curbside mid- march 2020. Delivery services were provided to seniors that were not able to leave their home. From july 2019 through june 2020, Wilkinson Center distributed 616,312 pounds of food, including 122,718 pounds of produce to families in crisis. 3,401 families, representing 8,537 clients were served. Each family averaged 3.5 visits to the food pantry during this period. 27% of head of households were seniors. For additional income support, clients may participate in annual drives. In 2020, Wilkinson Center distributed 500 gifts cards for 40 each from shoe carnival to clients; 200 backpacks filled with school supplies; 665 holiday meal baskets to families; and provided 151 familes with holiday toys. Programming for senior citizens includes enrollment in people and nutrition (pan), providing monthly supplemental food assistance through the u.s. department of agriculture; workshops focused on nutrition, life skills, and financial knowledge.