​Could you survive a month in poverty?  What choices would you make?  Join us for a poverty simulation on Saturday, March 21st from 1-4 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 801 Leavenworth, to find out!

Poverty is pervasive in our community.  According to USD 383, 29% of students in USD 383 (Manhattan/Ogden) qualify for free lunch, meaning their families make less than 130% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (2,034/7,018 students) and 205 students qualify as homeless.  20.7% of all individuals in Riley County live below the Federal Poverty Guidelines, which for a family of three is $21,330.  The Centers for Disease Control list poverty as one of the greatest causes of disparity and inequity in health. The toxic stress of poverty has been found to be associated with deleterious outcomes in learning, behavior, physical and mental health.

Thrive! is working every day to alleviate the stress of poverty for families in our community.  The first step is to increase awareness of the problem and how many families are struggling to survive in Riley County.  The Poverty Simulation, co-hosted by Thrive!, First Congregational Church, First Presbyterian Church, and First United Methodist Church, will provide you with an interactive immersive experience to help understand the challenges faced by those in financial poverty.  We are limited to 80 participants, so sign up today at www.thriveflinthills.com/events.html.  

Would you like to better understand how living in financial poverty affects individuals and families? Are you possibly interested in volunteering as an Ally for Thrive!? If so, please join us for a FREE Bridges Out of Poverty training. This highly interactive training will give you the tools you need to more effectively work with individual and families living in financial poverty.

Thrive! is a poverty-reduction program that works to alleviate poverty through positive and long-term relationships fostered in a safe and consistent place. The program builds life skills and resilience across generations.

Please contact Jayme Morris-Hardeman at director.thriveflinthills@gmail.com or 877-376-0032 to sign up for one of these three repeated sessions, all held in the Groesbeck Room of the Manhattan Public Library:

• Friday, August 16, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (lunch on your own from 12 noon to 1:00)
• Wednesday, August 21, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
• Saturday, September 7, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

 

This week, Jackie graduated from 18 months as a Leader with Thrive!  I have been lucky to serve as her Ally during that time.  At her graduation, I shared how I envisioned Jackie’s journey before and during Thrive!
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Imagine a mountain. The summit represents your dreams and stops along the way to the top your goals.  One side is a sheer cliff face.  The other is a meandering smooth trail.  Before Jackie came to Thrive!, she had plenty of goals and dreams. One of her greatest dreams was to support her family without the need for government assistance. However, she was trying to climb the mountain on the sheer cliff face without much help.

Jackie was making progress, but it was slow going. Then Thrive! came into her life and showed her the other side of the mountain. Not only was this path to the summit smoother and gentler, it was filled with people willing to help her along her journey.

Jackie has made it almost to the top of her mountain.  New employment with higher pay has led to a reduction in her family’s need for government assistance. Jackie’s job is fast-paced and engaging. She is challenged at work and loves it. She still has barriers to overcome — with the increase in salary comes a concurrent loss of assistance, and she isn’t always coming out ahead financially.  However, knowing Jackie, she will persevere and reach the summit!

Jackie has decided to continue to serve Thrive! as one of our volunteer Outreach Coordinators.  I’m thrilled to have her continue to be part of our community and to help others to join us on our journey to end poverty.

— Jayme Morris-Hardeman, executive director