PICKENS COUNTY—A simulation created by Missouri Community Action aims to enlighten the local community about the struggles of poverty.

The Poverty Simulation, designed “open people’s eyes to the human cost of poverty,” begins on March 16 at Pickens Presbyterian Church on West Main Street in Pickens.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon.

“The power of this unique learning resource is that it creates, like nothing else, insight into the state of crisis that consumes so many working poor families,” stated a release. “Participants experience one “month” of poverty comprised of four fifteen-minute weeks. Afterwards, in the debriefing, they share insights of extraordinary vividness and intensity.”

The simulation is being facilitated by Beth Lindsay Templeton of Our Eyes Were Opened, Inc. and former Director, United Christian Ministries, Greenville, for more than 3000 people.

The event is free of charge on behalf of Foothills Presbyterian and open to the public.

Participants are placed into families made up of one to five members.

They receive an envelope that describes their demographics, their income/resources and their bills.

They interact with “vendors” (trained volunteers) who sit at tables around the perimeter of the room. During the course of the simulation, they may deal with a mortgage/rental company, school, pawnbroker, banker, employer and others.

To get from “home” to one of the vendors requires a transportation ticket. This is just the first of many challenges the participants experience within the two-hour time period.

For more information or to register, contact Beth Lindsay Templeton at 864-380-6023. Interested participants can also contact David Chamlee at 864-561-3075 and Leanne White at 864-288-5774.