Thursday,
May 15, 2008
A month of hard
living, in an hour and a quarter
SELINSGROVE – Imagine living from
paycheck to paycheck, perhaps stealing or lying to make ends meet,
or coming home to find a mortgage company foreclosed on your home.
That was the point of an exercise called a Poverty Simulation, and
the Union-Snyder Community Action Agency hosted one Wednesday at
Susquehanna University.
Executive Director Harry Adrian says
it demonstrates how frustrating life can be for families on the
margin. Many end up neglecting things that other families take for
granted such as nurturing children. Participants were assigned roles
in families or as administrators of institutions such as banks,
supermarkets and help organizations.
The group of more than 100 was then
directed to live, work or go to school experiencing severe economic
hardship. The Dad was a professional without a job in one family,
with unemployment benefits running out, kids in trouble and Mom
working full time. One of their children was suspended from school
for cheating, and ended up in juvenile detention, accused of drug
possession.
The drill lasted about an hour, and
represented a month at or below the poverty level. Most families
found themselves facing unpaid bills, utilities shut off and
possessions turned over to a simulated pawnshop at the end of the
“month.” (Matt Farrand)
Outstanding
Young Americans recognized
NORTHUMBERLAND – Over 80 students
from eleven area school districts were honored Wednesday night as
Outstanding Young Americans. The group is composed of students who
excel not only academics, but also extracurricular activities.
Senior
Program Analyst at SEDA-COG, Ryan
Unger, who is a 1997 Shikellamy graduate and former Young American,
was the guest speaker for the evening. He called the students the
future of the region and the Central Susquehanna Valley’s best
asset. Unger encouraged the students to find something they are
passionate about and pursue it.
Northumberland Christian School
Senior Naomi Ilgenfritz says it’s an honor to be recognized for the
work she’s done throughout the school year. Natalie Sauers is a
senior student at Meadowbrook Christian School and says it’s
exciting to receive the award, and it’s been a great experience to
meet so many other Outstanding Young Americans from different school
districts.
The students have been involved in
numerous activities throughout the school year, including most
recently a leadership seminar in Lewisburg. Each student received a
plaque at Wednesday’s ceremony presented by the Greater Susquehanna
Valley Chamber of Commerce, The Daily Item and Sunbury Broadcasting
Corporation. (Sara Bartlett)