SGA to Partner with LU SERVE for Poverty Simulation

Volunteers gathered in SGA’s conference room Thursday to prepare for LU SERVE’s poverty simulations in November.

Photo from LU SERVE's website

Liberty University's (@LibertyU) LU SERVE department is partnering with student government to put on a simulated experience of poverty in the U.S.

The event, called “Community Service Impacts U.S. Poverty,” will be held in the Jerry Falwell Library 10:15-12:15 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7, and 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Students should register beforehand as spots are limited.

Volunteers gathered in one of SGA’s conference rooms on Thursday night to be trained for the simulation. Most of the volunteers are involved SGA students who will be participating to receive CSER credit. However, anyone is welcome to serve in this simulation, according to Daniel Hostetter, president of SGA.

“We first reached out to SGA students to offer it as a CSER opportunity, but then we also opened it up to others to kind of open it up to everyone,” said Hostetter.

Even if students missed the training on Thursday, they can still volunteer.

“We can send the video of the training to anyone who signs up,” said Hostetter. “We’re still looking for volunteers for our Monday time slot.”

Poverty in the U.S.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 2021 saw a 0.2% increase in poverty rates by the official poverty measure and a decrease of 1.4% by the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM).

• The official poverty rate of 2021 was 11.6%, accounting for 37.9 million Americans living in poverty.

• The SPM rate in 2021 was 7.8%, the lowest it has been since the measure’s introduction in 2009.

• U.S. poverty rates were declining from 2014 until 2020, which saw a 9% increase from the year before.

The “Community Service Impacts U.S. Poverty” simulation will focus on showing students what it looks like to experience poverty in the U.S., as well as some practical ways to help the situation in the Lynchburg community. After participating in the simulation, students will participate in a “debrief” where they will be given resources to engage in community service that impacts the local impoverished population.

A Mission of Service

According to Steven Gillum, a director at LU SERVE, they are partnering with SGA because this content is important to both groups.

“Our partnership with SGA is allowing the space for SGA to help take lead in facilitating this great experience for students and involving their leadership in making the simulation happen,” said Gillum in an email interview.

Hostetter said that this partnership helps to advance SGA’s mission and vision of building a culture of service on campus.

“We really want to educate and equip students to be able to, while they’re here in Lynchburg, to be able to go out and serve,” said Hostetter. “We see this event as being able to teach them that the love of Christ should compel us to show that same love to the people around us.”