The first group task was to gather general welfare statistics for Lima and Bluffton. This group also included welfare statistics for all of Allen County, in order to provide a reference point to compare and contrast other data. The second group task was to focus on WIC. They went into local grocery stores and spoke with store managers. They were able to find out exactly what foods and brands are available through the WIC program, how the store managers and the government work together, who the WIC program helps and how the program operates. The task of the third group was to focus on free and reduce lunches. This group not only provided data on who is eligible for free and reduced lunches, but also explained how the system could be changed in the future. Finally, the third groups explained what consisted of a healthy lunch and how each school was held accountable. The last group examined unemployment and provided general statistics. They also explained how unemployment affects the community, the employer and the individual.

There were common themes throughout the PowerPoints. One of the most common themes was how people are taking advantage of the various programs welfare offers. This led our class to have a debate over what do you do when a few people are taking advantage of a system in which many people benefit from? Do you simply allow it to continue, so the programs are available for the people who really need it? Do you eliminate the program, because it is our tax money that pays for these programs? Or is there a compromise which appeases everyone? These are not easy questions to answer. We encourage you to think about these questions as you read through our PowerPoint. We hope these questions challenge you as much as they do us. For more information on the causes of poverty in Lima, Ohio Click Here