The Palm Beach County Community Services Department (CSD) will recognize October as Poverty Awareness Month to bring awareness to issues related to low-income families, coordinate local efforts to fight the war on poverty, and make essential contributions to individuals and families in Palm Beach County.

Since 1974, CSD's Community Action Program (CAP) has been helping individuals and families in Palm Beach County by providing innovative, cost-effective, and outcome-based economic opportunities. In partnership with Pathways to Prosperity and Circles of Palm Beach County, CSD invites the public to participate in a variety of activities during the week of October 16 to 19 that will bring participants face-to-face with the barriers many impoverished people in our county experience on a daily basis. The activities planned for the week are:

• October 16: Social media chat challenge – Watch films on poverty and discuss via social media the issues related to poverty using the hashtags #PBCPovertyAwarenessMonth and #PBCPovertyChallenge. Some suggested videos are 'Spent: Looking for a Change', 'A Place at the Table' trailer, and 'American Winter' trailer.

• October 17: Take the SNAP challenge – Can you make $4.50 stretch to pay for three meals? On this day, experience the food challenge that millions of Americans go through by spending no more than $4.50 for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  
   
• October 18: Palm Tran challenge – Attempt this challenge by taking public transportation or riding a bicycle this day.
  
   
• October 19: Participate in the Cost of Poverty Experience (C.O.P.E.) simulation challenge – Leadership Palm Beach County in partnership with CSD and CAP will host a free, real-life experimental poverty simulation where participants will get a glimpse of the obstacles low-income individuals and families face every day. This event will be from 9 a.m. to noon at 2751 South Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. Participants must RSVP at bit.ly/COPE18.

 
"Poverty is a reality for many Palm Beach County residents, and it is difficult to understand unless people experience it," said Community Services Department Director James Green. "We believe that eliminating poverty is a moral and economic imperative, and we want to engage our community to be part of the solution. These poverty challenges are an educational experience designed to give people a new perspective on the realities of poverty."

To learn more about Poverty Awareness Month, call (561) 355-4792. For more information about C.O.P.E., contact marlee@leadershippbc.org.