Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

ST. JAMES­—Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and Missouri Ozarks Community Action (MOCA) are teaming up to host a poverty simulation from 2-4:30 p.m., Feb. 15, at the Eugene Northern Community Hall in Rolla. MRPC is looking for 15 volunteers, who would be interested in helping run the simulation, and 75 participants for the simulation.

“The focus of the program is to give people a sense of what it’s like to live in poverty,” Kelly Sink-Blair, MRPC planning and development manager, said.

According to the United States Census Bureau’s 2015 American Community Survey, approximately 916,000 Missourians live below poverty level. The simulation strives to help individuals understand through an enlightening interactive experience what life is like with a shortage of money and an abundance of stress, as well as teach people how they can make a difference in the lives of the individuals who live in this situation on a daily basis.

“To better help folks improve their situations, we first must understand the barriers and challenges they are facing day-in and day-out,” said MRPC Executive Director Bonnie Prigge. “We encourage you to participate in this simulation.”

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. A professional staff of 25, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.

To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion/.