GIRARD — Church members, pastors, law enforcement personnel, social workers, counselors and others came together for a day of learning on how to assist those experiencing poverty.
The Bridges Out of Poverty training took place recently at Girard United Methodist Church, with more than 30 people participating.
Meghan DeGregory, ministry coordinator at the church, said Thrive 10:10 is a new nonprofit started at the church that also includes Ruth’s Boutique, which started in 2019 to provide outreach to women in need 9 to 10:30 a.m. the first Saturday of the month. She said 65 people were helped last month.
Ruth’s Boutique offers hygiene and beauty products to women. Plans are to expand with other items for men and children in 2022.
“With the training, there is a way to bridge the gap between different agencies and groups that help people in the community,” DeGregory said.
Angie Cameron, director of the Center for Human Services Development at Youngstown State University, said the six-hour training helped people better understand the mental models of poverty, middle class and wealthy.
“By understanding that, they can start to take that knowledge back to co-workers, clients they work with and churches to help them understand the barriers that people face and what are the ways to best serve them. It allows them to look at life through a different set of lenses and help them to be more efficient, effective and helpful to clients in poverty,” Cameron said.
She said the center is an externally funded outreach that provides professional development and grant-writing services.
“The Bridges Out of Poverty can help the community understand what Ruth’s Boutique and Thrive 10:10 are trying to do. It really gives you an understanding and different perspective of what people face in their lives,” Cameron said.
DeGregory said they tried to do engaging, interactive and hands-on activities on what sometimes can be “an uncomfortable subject.”
The Rev. Vicky Kelly, pastor of the church, said Thrive 10:10 comes from the John 10:10 Bible passage that talks about giving abundantly.
“Ruth’s Boutique is more than a handout. The event helped me understand the hidden assumptions people may have. We all have them on what is poverty, the middle class and wealthy. When we recognize this, it helps us to communicate with people better,” she said.
Sherry Steiner, a church member, said the event helped teach professionals how to effectively and compassionately offer a “hand up” to those in poverty.
“New friends were made while new ideas were shared in preparation for presenting helpful information to the Girard community and beyond,” Steiner said.
“I have always been passionate about this topic and wanted to learn more. I can help apply what I learned today to help others in all walks of life. We can never assume we know someone’s situation just by looking at them,” she said.
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