Forward STEPS

Forward STEPS, an initiative of Second Harvest, is committed to deepening community understanding of poverty while paving the way for enhanced economic mobility. Through engaging conversations, interactive workshops, and tailored sessions, this program delves into the root causes of under-resourced circumstances and equips participants—from corporate teams and educators to healthcare professionals and college students—with the insights needed to break the cycle of poverty. Whether hosted onsite or at alternative venues, each engagement is designed to resonate with diverse audiences, fostering a collaborative spirit that sparks real, lasting change.

Forwards STEPS is the “Hope for Tomorrow” arm of Second Harvest’s tagline —illustrating how confronting the systemic challenges of poverty can transform lives. This narrative highlights the importance of addressing underlying issues with empathy and targeted strategies, ultimately enabling communities to take decisive action against economic hardship. Our programs underscore the power of community-led change and stand as a testament to what can be achieved when individuals and organizations unite to tackle poverty at its core.

Better Understand Poverty

Poverty is a reality for many individuals and families, but unless you have experienced it firsthand, it is difficult to realize the depth and complexity of the situation faced by many in our community. To achieve a better understanding of the challenges facing our under-resourced neighbors, Second Harvest offers a variety of poverty education programs—the majority at no cost. These unique, enlightening programs help individuals and groups grasp what life is like when faced with a lack of resources. All programs are free of charge unless indicated.

Poverty Simulation

The Poverty Simulation is a powerful, three-hour interactive experience that challenges participants to navigate the difficult realities faced by individuals and families living at or near the poverty line. This immersive role-playing activity provides a deeper understanding of the barriers to financial stability, food security, and essential resources.

Participants take on the role of a household member experiencing financial hardship, tasked with making tough decisions about employment, housing, food, healthcare, and transportation. Meanwhile, volunteers act as community organizations, businesses, and service providers, adding realism to the experience. Through this simulation, attendees gain critical insight into the day-to-day struggles of their neighbors while exploring ways to create meaningful change.

Ideal for corporate teams, educators, college students, civic groups, faith communities, and nonprofit organizations, the Poverty Simulation is a transformative tool for fostering empathy and sparking conversations about systemic challenges and solutions.

The Poverty Simulation is available for groups ranging from 28 to 80 individuals with 11 to 19 additional people serving as the community organizations. The program fee for this experience is $1,500.

Interested in bringing this experience to your group? Contact Carol Bradshaw at cbradshaw@curehunger.org to schedule a Poverty Simulation and help build a more informed, compassionate community.

Community Food Experience

The Community Food Experience is a dynamic 90-minute simulation where participants represent a neighbor facing a health challenge. They must navigate real-life obstacles, managing a tight budget while meeting nutritional needs. This immersive experience sheds light on the complexities of hunger and the impact of food insecurity on daily life.

The Community Food Experience is available for groups ranging from 15 to 75 individuals with 5 to 15 additional people serving as community organizations. Our diverse participant base encompasses corporate teams, educators, college students, healthcare professionals, public and private school students (grades 5-12), faith communities, civic groups, volunteers, and more. Typically, the program fee for this invaluable experience is $250.

Interested in bringing this experience to your group? Contact Carol Bradshaw at cbradshaw@curehunger.org to schedule a Community Food Experience and build a better educated community.

Cooking Matters

Through our partnership with Indy Hunger Network, Second Harvest offers Cooking Matters. Cooking Matters makes a real impact on communities by empowering individuals with essential cooking skills and nutritional knowledge. Not only does it help address issues like hunger and nutrition disparities, but it also fosters a sense of self-sufficiency and confidence in participants as they learn to make healthier and budget-friendly choices for themselves and their families. Plus, the hands-on aspect of cooking alongside a qualified instructor is engaging and effective for the participants. Offering groceries to take home and practice what they’ve learned reinforces the lessons and ensures they can continue applying their new skills beyond the class.

Interested in bringing this experience to your group? The number of classes offered is limited. Contact Carol Bradshaw at cbradshaw@curehunger.org to learn more about Cooking Matters.

Hard Choices

Hard Choices is a versatile interactive game offering adaptability for both team-based and individual play, accommodating durations ranging from a quick 15 minutes to a more extensive 90-minute session. Players roll a die to determine their allocated resources for survival, which include education, food, transportation, housing, utilities, employment, and healthcare. Participants are tasked with defending their resource selections through discussion and strategic decision-making.

Interested in bringing this game to your group? Contact Carol Bradshaw at cbradshaw@curehunger.org to schedule Hard Choices.

Can I Move Out?

Can I Move Out? is a workshop that empowers young adults to independently assess their readiness for independent living. Covering essential topics such as utility expenses, security deposits, household supply costs, apartment hunting, budget creation, affordable housing resources, SMART goal setting, and lease examination, participants gain comprehensive insight into the intricacies of moving out.

Tailored to the level of student engagement, the workshop can be 60 to 120 minutes, allowing ample time for exploration and discussion of each topic.

This workshop empowers participants to assess their own readiness. The facilitator will not judge or inform anyone of their readiness but will instead guide discussions to help each participant make their own decision.

Interested in bringing this experience to your group? Contact Carol Bradshaw at cbradshaw@curehunger.org to schedule Can I Move Out? and empower young adults to make better choices.

Survive

Dive into the Survive poverty simulation, a fast-paced, tabletop experience where Smarties candies are your currency. Make critical social class decisions such as one candy for a homeless shelter, two candies for a basic one-bedroom apartment, or three candies for a two-bedroom with amenities. With eight categories and only 15 candies, can you strategize to make the best choices? Challenge yourself and see if you can survive! Finally, justify your resource selections through a lead discussion.

Interested in bringing this discussion to your group? Contact Carol Bradshaw at cbradshaw@curehunger.org to schedule Survive.

Keep an eye on our Events page for upcoming public trainings. You can also request one of these trainings for your organization, class, or workplace, contact Carol Bradshaw at cbradshaw@curehunger.org | 765-287-8698 x 117.

Quit Getting By & Start Getting Ahead

At Second Harvest, we are dedicated to empowering neighbors through personalized, one-on-one support that paves the way to self-sufficiency. Our comprehensive suite of programs—including Getting Ahead, Staying Ahead, and the Ally Program—ensures that every individual receives tailored guidance and practical resources to overcome poverty. In Getting Ahead, participants engage in a transformative journey working closely with facilitators, providing them with intensive self-reflection and open dialogue.

Building on this foundation, Staying Ahead offers continued, individualized support to help participants maintain their progress and navigate emerging challenges, reinforcing the skills and mindset needed for lasting success. Complementing these efforts, the Ally Program connects individuals with community mentors and advocates who stand ready to provide ongoing guidance and resource connections. Together, these programs exemplify our commitment to working directly with neighbors—empowering them to break the cycle of poverty, transform their lives, and build a brighter, more self-sufficient future.

Getting Ahead

Getting Ahead is 16 weeks of intensive engagement within a nurturing educational setting, guided by experienced facilitators. Participants, referred to as “investigators,” are encouraged to examine their own experience of poverty and analyze community issues contributing to it. Each session is supplemented with a $25 gift card incentive, accompanied by dinner and childcare services. Furthermore, biweekly groceries aid in building their pantry resources.

Facilitators steer investigators through a comprehensive self-assessment of their existing resources, empowering them to reinforce these assets on their path toward self-sufficiency. Getting Ahead empowers individuals struggling with poverty by equipping them with helpful concepts, tools, and relationships to effect positive change in their lives and their communities.
Classes in Delaware and Henry Counties typically start in mid-August and mid-January each year.

Application Process:

Apply online.
Applications are reviewed several weeks before class starts.
A criminal background check is performed. Convictions do not automatically disqualify you, but violent, sex, or child-related felonies may result in waitlisting.
If selected, you will be contacted to complete a survey.
After completing the survey, you will receive class information.

If you or someone you know someone who could benefit from Getting Ahead, Get Started Here

Staying Ahead

Getting Ahead graduates are welcome at monthly Staying Ahead meetings. Staying Ahead serves as the complementary program to the Getting Ahead initiative, exclusively available to graduates of the Getting Ahead program at no cost. It offers essential supplementary resources aimed at maintaining their focus on shaping their future narrative. Through Staying Ahead, participants find a supportive environment to foster connections with fellow graduates, cultivate social capital, and unearth their passions and purpose.

Ally Program

The Ally Program serves as a bridge between community members and graduates of the Getting Ahead program. Getting Ahead empowers participants, known as “investigators,” to delve into their personal experiences of poverty and explore community issues related to poverty.

Through the Ally Program, investigators are paired with ally partners from the community, fostering a supportive network and facilitating resource-building opportunities. This program not only aids investigators in their journey towards self-sufficiency but also enables community members to deepen their awareness, empathy, and understanding of the impact of poverty within our community.

Ally partners in the program are volunteers from diverse backgrounds and economic levels, united by their shared commitment to supporting others on their path to self-sufficiency. While they do not offer financial assistance, allies provide invaluable emotional support and practical assistance through networking and resource-building efforts. Communication frequency and interaction methods are determined collaboratively between the ally and investigator, with activities varying based on individual needs and preferences.

In partnership with their ally, investigators embark on a journey towards self-sufficiency, nurturing a reciprocal relationship that facilitates the development of social capital within the community. Allies serve as guides and mentors, offering advice and accountability to help investigators achieve their goals. Together, they navigate challenges and celebrate successes, fostering a supportive environment conducive to growth and empowerment.

If you have expertise to share, Become a Getting Ahead Ally