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Mark your Calendar!

Coming in November:

Tuesday, Nov. 3: 6:30 p.m., Coordinator Meeting, FPNI Day Center
Tuesday, Nov. 10: 6 p.m. - FPNI Day Center Tour;
6:30 p.m. Volunteer Training at FPNI Day Center
Saturday, November 14:
5 to 7:30 p.m., Poverty Simulation, SDA, Post Falls.
Monday, November 16:
6 p.m., Board Meeting, FPNI Day Center
Sunday, November 22:
7 p.m., Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service, 1st Presbyterian, CDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many North Idaho residents face poverty every day. Even if you've never experienced poverty, it touches you as a teacher, nurse, banker, volunteer, clerk, landlord, or community member. You cross paths every day with people who are poor. For some the wear and tear of poverty is obvious; for others it is a silent struggle; for all it is harmful.

Have you ever wondered why it seems so difficult for some people to escape poverty? Have you ever wanted to help but not known how? As part of local activities for Homeless Awareness Week – November 14 through 20 – Family Promise of North Idaho will participate in a ‘Poverty Simulation’ which will allow you to ‘walk in the shoes of poverty’ for one evening. Participants will learn to advocate from a place of knowledge as well as compassion.

The Poverty Simulation will take place Saturday, November 14, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Post Falls 7th Day Adventist Church, 3297 Poleline Avenue in Post Falls. The Simulation exercise is designed to help participants begin to understand what it might be like to live in a typical low-income family trying to survive from month to month. Forty to 80 participants will assume the roles of up to 26 different families facing poverty. For example, some family roles may be the newly unemployed or recently deserted by the ‘breadwinner,” while some are homeless, and others are receiving assistance funding with or without additional income. Still other family ‘situations’ are senior citizens receiving disability or retirement or grandparents raising their grandchildren. The task for the ‘families’ is to provide for basic necessities and shelter during the course of four 15-minute ‘weeks’.

The simulation is conducted in a large room with the ‘families’ seated in groups in the center. Around the perimeter are tables representing community resources and services for the families. These services include a bank, super center, Community Action agency, employer, utility company, pawn broker, grocery, social service agency, faith-based agency, payday and title loan facility, mortgage company, school and child care center. Volunteers - preferably persons who have faced or are facing poverty - staff the resource tables. They are also recruited to assume the roles of police officer and an “illegal activities” person. From the initial introduction and briefing, through the actual simulation exercise, and a debriefing period, participants and volunteer staffers will share their feelings and experiences and discuss what they have learned about the lives of people in poverty.

“This experience is a ‘simulation’, not a ‘game’,” says Cindy Wood, Executive Director of FPNI and Poverty Simulation committee member, "People will find it’s an invaluable experience that will impact your perspective of your community and those who live in poverty among us."

The public is invited to ‘put on the shoes of poverty’ to see how the Poverty Simulation can raise awareness, heighten sensitivity, and create new paths in our community or at your school, business or organization. Reservations are required. To sign up, call the Family Promise office: 777.4190.

The Poverty Simulation experience was featured in a National Public Radio Series. Click HERE to learn more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Wood, pictured above in yellow hat with daughter, Zoe, and Jolene Pooley, warms up with some coffee. Above, (L-R) Brenda, Mylea and Michael Harlan are ready to face a cold night. At right, Davis Sandahl and her crew from A Week’s Feast donated and prepared breakfast for all.