HARTSVILLE, S.C.—SPC Credit Union partnered with the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Hartsville program to host a poverty simulation designed to give participants a firsthand look at the financial challenges faced by many families in the communities the credit union serves.
The event brought together SPC employees, Leadership Hartsville participants and community volunteers, who were tasked with navigating a week’s worth of financial decisions using a limited household budget. Participants faced choices involving housing, childcare, healthcare, transportation and other expenses, highlighting the difficult tradeoffs many low-income families confront daily.
Brooke Humphries, SPC Credit Union’s community impact liaison, said the exercise was intended to move beyond statistics and help participants better understand the stress and emotional impact of financial hardship. Community organizations including Genesis Healthcare, Darlington County First Steps and Rubicon Family Counseling Center also participated in facilitating the simulation.
SPC Credit Union said the event aligns with its mission as a Community Development Financial Institution serving South Carolina’s Darlington, Florence, Marlboro and Chesterfield counties. The credit union said the exercise reflects its broader efforts to support financial stability and community development through education, outreach and assistance programs