Project with New Braunfels Food Bank

 New Braunfels, TX — As the job market continues to shift and technology reshapes how work is done, communities across the country are facing a growing challenge: how to ensure residents have the skills needed to stay competitive in an evolving workforce.

In New Braunfels, local leaders and organizations are stepping forward with a solution rooted in both practicality and purpose—restoring access to free adult computer education.

The New Braunfels Evening Lions Club, in partnership with the New Braunfels Food Bank, is working to bring back a program that once served as the only provider of free adult computer classes in Comal and Guadalupe Counties following the COVID-19 pandemic. At its peak, the program supported nearly three dozen participants each month, helping individuals build foundational digital skills needed for employment and everyday life.

“Technology serves as a vital gateway to opportunity,” remarked project lead Tina Byram. “In today’s job market, individuals lacking basic computer skills find themselves effectively excluded from many employment opportunities.”

These classes previously covered essential topics such as Microsoft Word and Excel, email communication, online job applications, LinkedIn networking, and cybersecurity awareness. For many participants, the program represented a critical first step toward employment and financial stability.

However, as technology rapidly advanced, the classroom’s equipment did not. The computers—now more than a decade old—run unsupported software, creating both security risks and barriers to effective instruction. As a result, the program has been paused for nearly a year, despite ongoing demand from community members.

Recognizing the urgency, the New Braunfels Evening Lions Club has committed the first $2,000 toward a $12,000 initiative to modernize the classroom. The goal is to replace outdated equipment with new laptops, provide a secure charging and storage system, and create a flexible learning environment that can support both current and future workforce training needs.

But this effort is about more than replacing computers.

It reflects a broader understanding that sustainable communities depend on access to opportunity—and that opportunity increasingly requires digital literacy.

As automation, artificial intelligence, and online systems continue to transform industries, even entry-level positions now require a baseline level of comfort with technology. For individuals without those skills, barriers to employment can quickly multiply.

“This is about preparing individuals for the future of work—not the past,” Byram stated. “To build a strong, sustainable community, we must invest in the necessary skills to make that possible.”

The initiative is now entering a critical phase, with organizers seeking support from local businesses, grant opportunities, and community members. In addition to funding, the program is seeking volunteers who can share their expertise and help teach future classes.

Organizers emphasize that contributions of any size can make a difference.

“Whether it’s a business partnership, a volunteer instructor, or even a small donation, every type of support contributes to the progress of this project,” Byram said.

Community members interested in supporting the initiative or learning more are encouraged to reach out directly.

As New Braunfels continues to grow, efforts like this highlight the importance not only of expanding opportunity—but also of ensuring that everyone has the tools to access it.