Promoting Understanding: Cost of Poverty Experience Coming to Marion this Saturday

Andrew Carter
Marion Star
Published 10:35 a.m., Sept. 12, 2023

Aspire Ministries of Marion County and ThinkTank, Inc. are teaming to offer The Cost of Poverty Experience (COPE) Faith Edition on Saturday at Cornerstone Alliance Church in Marion.

Jenni Hypes, executive director of Aspire Ministries (formerly known as Love, INC.), said the event is designed to provide participants with an intimate look inside what it means to live in poverty. Admission is free, but participants must register to attend. The event begins at 9 a.m. Saturday.

"Our hope in providing this opportunity for our community is to expose others to the reality of barriers and unseen challenges that many low-income families experience," Hypes said. "Each participant will walk in the shoes of a family member and will visit stations representing day-to-day tasks such as earning a paycheck, stopping by the bank, going to the grocery store, and caring for their children and other family members."

Telling the human story of poverty

Hypes said ThinkTank, Inc. based in Springfield,is facilitating the event, which is "built on the experiences of real Ohio families."

According to its website, ThinkTank, Inc. "exists to tell the human story of poverty, because all people have value and their stories matter."

ThinkTank, Inc. works to "bring dignity and opportunity to those living under poverty’s economic and social burden. (The organization's) work supports and equips both organizations and people with personal experience who are working together to make our communities stronger," according to its website.

Marlo Fox, executive director of ThinkTank, Inc., co-founded the organization in 2006 "with the purpose of building awareness and facilitating collaboration among organizations seeking ways to promote more thriving communities," according to her information page on the ThinkTank, Inc. website.

This weekend marks the second time the event has been held in Marion County, Hypes said. In 2021, when Aspire Ministries was known as Love INC., the agency brought COPE to Marion.

"Our hope is this event will be an eye-opening experience that will prompt our community to get more involved in partnering with our low-income families and the agencies that serve them," Hypes said.

Cornerstone Alliance Church is located at 2010 Marion-Marysville Road, south of Marion.

Go to the Aspire Ministries Facebook page to register for The Cost of Poverty Experience (COPE) Faith Edition.

Email: ecarter@gannett.com