Special to Iredell Free News

Poverty is a reality for many individuals and families. But unless you have experienced poverty, it is difficult to understand.

The Christian Mission, in partnership with I-CARE, will host an interactive Poverty Simulation on Tuesday, April 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Selma Burke Recreation Center, located at 781 Agape Drive in Mooresville.

The Christian Mission exists to break the cycle of poverty by providing crisis assistance, case management, and educational programming.

The Poverty Simulation is a unique, enlightening experience that helps participants begin to understand the barriers millions of low-income individuals face daily. It moves people to think about the harsh realities of poverty and to talk about how communities can address the problem collectively. Most importantly, it encourages people to make a positive difference for their neighbors.

The three-hour immersive experience allows individuals to walk in the shoes of someone who is facing poverty and realize how complex and interconnected issues of poverty really are. Participants take on roles of everyday life for someone living in poverty and do their best to survive over a simulated one-month period. The simulation presents participants with real-life scenarios and challenges faced by people living in poverty. The exercise is immediately followed by lunch and a group debrief, during which participants reflect on the experience, discuss insights, and consider next steps.

Sign up to participate through the link at https://thechristianmission.org/poverty by Tuesday, April 16. For more information contact volunteer@thechristianmission.org