Making a Difference:
One Family at a Time
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Can you spare 90 minutes on March 12
th
?
You are invited to participate in a unique and impactful
Poverty Simulation
at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department’s Hall on March 12, 2020 at 9:00 am sponsored by Family PASS and Fairfax County’s Community Action Advisory Board.
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The poverty simulation experience is designed to help participants understand what it might be like to live in a typical low-income family trying to survive from month to month
. It is a simulation, not a game.
The object is to expose participants to the realities faced by low-income people. In other words, to walk a mile in their shoes.
If you are interested in participating please click
here
for information and reservations. Reservations are required as each attendee will play a specific role during the simulation. If you do make a reservation we ask that you honor that time slot. If you cannot, please let us know as soon as possible so we can replace you in the simulation.
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In the simulation, 44 to 80 participants assume the roles of up to 26 different families facing poverty. Some families are newly unemployed, some are recently deserted by the “breadwinner,” some are homeless, and others are recipients of TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, formerly AFDC), either with or without additional earned income. Still others are senior citizens receiving Disability or Retirement or grandparents raising their grandchildren. The task of the “families” is to provide for basic necessities and shelter during the course of four 15-minute “weeks.”
The simulation is conducted in a large room with the “families” seated in groups in the center. Around the perimeter are tables representing community resources and services for the families. These services include a bank, super center, Community Action Agency, employer, utility company, pawn broker, grocery, social service agency, faith-based agency, payday and title loan facility, mortgage company, school, and child care center.
Each participant will receive a bag of essential items at the end of the program to give to someone in need.
Coffee and snacks will be served during the orientation
and lunch will be served during Q & A.
Here are some of the reactions from participants in previous simulations:
I “lived” this for one hour. I cannot imagine living this day in and day out.”
“This experience made me realize the need to change my business policies that negatively impact low-income people in my community.”
Thank you to Board Member Nancy Socher for getting our Simulation donors:
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One Client’s Story: From Day Care Provider to Accountant
This mother of two has been a client at Family PASS for 10 months.
When she was first referred to Family PASS by the county, the client was struggling with constant disconnect notices for her utilities, spending many days at a time without electricity. Due to the inconsistent nature of her line of work as a day care provider, the client experienced frequent rent and utility crises. Family PASS provided emergency funding to avoid disconnection and eviction and then arranged for the client to meet with a financial adviser to help construct a monthly budget that could meet her expenses. By working with the financial management center, the client was able to pay off a $3000 credit card and is working on improving her credit score.
A Family PASS case manager’s role is to connect a client with the specific services needed such as financial management but more importantly to provide the client with both physical and emotional support that enables the client to achieve goals that lead to family and housing stability.
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It was during case management that the client discovered her true career goal of becoming a certified accountant which, in turn, would enable her to establish a stable and sustainable income. With the help of Family PASS, the client has enrolled in an introductory accounting certification class through Northern Virginia Community College’s Adult Career Pathways program and is excelling in her studies. The client has expressed interest in continuing her education and obtaining a preliminary accounting certification to become employed as an accounting assistant in a bookkeeping position, working towards one day becoming a certified accountant.
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Thank You To Our Donors!
So many people continue to help our families in need by donating. Our thanks go out to the following organizations and people who support Family PASS:
Mr. Charles Allen, John Allen, Janet Auerbach, Ed & Jill Baranoski, Tom & Maria Barba, Cynthia Barvin, Jodi Bentley, Miriam Braganca, James & Carol Ann Caputo, James Carroll, Patti and Cliff Cooksey, Therese Di Diego, Janine Doran, Rebecca Eckerman, Jill Edwards, Clyde & Lee Ellis, Mary Farrell, Laurel Glassman, Jane Gurin & Jim Asker, Robert & Helen Heald, John Horejsi, Paul & Lindsey Iacovino, Jeffrey & Shannon Jamison, Suzanne Jenkins, Davis & Cathy Johnson, Pat Kearns, Dr. Brandon Lemuel, Catherine & John Matchette, Susan McKenzie, Tim & Diane Naughton, Nancy Nolting, Jill Paul, James Pecot, Robert & Katherine Phillips, doug & Diana Pinkham, Sam Pogue (Alpenglow Exotic Plants), Richard Roberts, Eli Rosenbaum, Mary Romagnoli, Eva Sereghy, James & Barbara Snow, Larry & Nancy Socher, Bonnie Wald, Brian & Andrea Wallenhorst, William & Sandra Wallenhorst, William & Katherine Webb, Judith Weiand, Joe Willis, Steven Winkler, Lori & Joseph Wood, Marilyn Zett, Louise & Thomas Zinzi, Elizabeth Zolper, and Dran Gropper.
Thank you to Patrick Kinlan for his donation in memory of his wife,
Helen A. Kinlan.
Thanks also to The Closet of Herndon, The Rotary Club of Vienna, The Vienna Business Association Foundation, Church of the Good Shepherd UMC, TMKenny Property Services, St. Mark Catholic Church, St. John Episcopal Church, Episcopal Women Church of the Holy Cross, Temple Rodef Shalom, and Integrity One Partners.
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For Your Information (FYI)
FYI is a new feature of the Family PASS newsletter and will include links or reprints of local and national information about homelessness, the affordable housing crisis and the impact of homelessness on families and communities.
This is from an article from the Jan. 30, 2020 edition of US News & World Report by Lauren Camera. Follow the link below to read her story.
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Fairfax County Public Schools counts over 3,000 of its students as homeless.
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Mark Your Calendars!
Spring Breakfast June 3, 2020 7:30 am, Maggiano’s Tysons Galleria
Oktoberfest October 3, 2020 11-7, Vienna Town Center –
Volunteers Needed
Fall Benefit Golf Tournament October 5, 2020 Westfields Golf Club, Clifton, VA
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Family PASS
2740 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 123
Vienna, VA 22181
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