COATESVILLE, PA — Every day, individuals and families across Chester County struggle to make ends meet, often forced into difficult choices between paying bills, accessing healthcare, or putting food on the table. To shine a light on these realities and inspire meaningful action, a coalition of local organizations will host a Poverty Simulation on Friday, October 17, 2025, from 10:00am to 1:00pm at the Lutheran Church of the Good Samaritan in Coatesville, PA.
The Poverty Simulation is a powerful, interactive learning experience designed to help participants step into the shoes of individuals and families navigating life with limited resources. Through role-playing activities and real-world scenarios, attendees will experience the financial and social challenges that many households face in Chester County. Following the simulation, participants will take part in a guided debriefing session, reflecting on lessons learned and discussing opportunities for action and collaboration.
“Too often poverty is talked about in terms of numbers and statistics,” said Cheryl Miles, Community Housing Development Director at Kennett Area Community Service (KACS). “The simulation puts real-life challenges into focus, showing how quickly a family can fall behind despite their best efforts. It’s an essential step toward building solutions that are grounded in both empathy and reality.”
This program is open to all community members, including students, educators, faith groups, service providers, nonprofit board members, and anyone who wants to better understand the complexities of financial insecurity. Participants will leave with greater awareness, stronger community connections, and renewed energy to be part of solutions that strengthen Chester County.
In partnership with the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, participants are encouraged to bring a dry food good or personal hygiene care product for the church’s pantry.
About the Co-Hosts
The Poverty Simulation is co-hosted by a collaboration of community organizations committed to addressing poverty in Chester County:
- Kennett Area Community Service (KACS)
- Greater Deliverance Development Outreach
- Chester County United Way
- Chester County Bridges Coalition
- The Alliance for Health Equity
- Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
Registration
To learn more or to register, please visit https://tinyurl.com/PovSim25
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.