What is the true cost of poverty in Logan County?
Consider that 10 percent of Logan County families live in poverty. An additional 25 percent are employed, earning more than federal poverty guidelines, but less than the basic cost of living. One in three Logan County residents do not make ends meet.
A group of Benjamin Logan High School seniors joined the United Way of Logan County for an interactive simulation as they participated in Think Tank, Inc.’s “Cost of Poverty Experience.”
The students from BLHS Economics and Sociology classes learned what it’s like to live in a state of poverty and gained an understanding of the strains it puts on all Logan County residents.
The event took place at the United Methodist Church in Bellefontaine in conjunction with the Logan County Chamber of Commerce.
The Cost of Poverty Experience also helped the students to learn more about things they can do to alleviate poverty in Logan County.
“Having the senior social studies classes from Benjamin Logan High School participate added a dynamic, youthful energy to the simulation,” said Dave Bezusko, United Way of Logan County executive director. “They were very engaged throughout the program.
Hopefully, they came away with new appreciation for the struggles many families work to overcome and insights into how difficult it can be to make ends meet in the real world.”