by Suzanne Donovan , www.stepupsavannah.org
Step out of your comfort zone and into the shoes of our community’s working poor through Step Up’s “Welcome to the State of Poverty” simulation from 2- 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 17 at the Savannah Morning News auditorium.
The simulation requires groups of 35 to 75 people to assume the roles of families living in poverty. The goal of each family is to survive for one month, which takes place in four 15-minute “weeks.” In this time, participants must maintain secure shelter, feed their families, make loan payments, cover expenses such as transportation, and keep their children in school – all while subsisting at or below the poverty level.
More than 19% of Chatham County families are living at or below the poverty level. And while 65 percent of Chatham County families in poverty report earning wages, many are just getting by day-to-day.
“Many of our managers have attended the poverty simulations and have gained a better understanding of some of the challenges that our employees may be facing as a result, said Jill Fitzgerald, human resource manager at IKEA Distribution Center. “They are a great professional development tool and have helped us understand how to better meet the needs of our employees.”
Participation is free and open to the public; the simulation will take place from 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Savannah Morning News’ auditorium (1375 Chatham Parkway). It is hosted by Step Up and Hands On Savannah of the United Way of the Coastal Empire.
To register for the May17 simulation at the Morning News, contact Shawnte Tyler by calling 912-232-6747 or by e-mail at styler@stepupsavannah.org.
If you have been through a simulation and would like to volunteer for this event, or future simulations, please call Hands On Savannah, at 651-7726 to sign up.
