Poverty is a real problem in Lexington County.
In fact, 14% of our residents live at or below the national poverty level.
I didn’t know that.
Did you?
Fortunately, Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church does and is doing something about it.
The church partners with local groups to collect food for food pantries. They also have joined with CIRCLES USA®, an organization that started 24 years ago with the goal of helping people get and stay out of poverty.
To bring awareness to the county’s poverty issue, Mt. Horeb and Mission Lexington are hosting a poverty simulation event Tuesday, August 27.
Up to 100 people will participate in a 1-night program designed to simulate 1 month in the life of someone living in poverty.
They will be assigned a role for the evening that represents possible situations people in poverty may find themselves in. For example, a single woman living with a boyfriend, someone employed with spouse in jail, or a single man living in a homeless shelter.
Participants will face issues like no reliable means of transportation, no knowledge of agencies and groups that could help them and dealing with bureaucracies in the public and private sector.
Volunteers will play the roles of social service caseworkers, mortgage or rent collectors, law enforcement, etc. The whole evening will enlighten participants about how challenging it can be for those caught in poverty to get the help they need.
The event will be at Mt. Horeb UMC, 1205 Old Cherokee Rd. in Lexington. A dinner will start at 5:15 pm and the program at 6 pm.
The event is free, but registration is required. Email anna@MissionLexingtonsc.org for information.
Do you have a ministry that you want to talk about? Contact me by phone at 803-348-0243 or email at Chuck.lexchron@gmail.com .