The Indiana Federation of Business and Professional Women is looking for volunteers to help with its annual Reality Store on Oct. 12 at the Boys & Girls Club of Montgomery County.
The event gives eighth-grade students from Crawfordsville, North Montgomery and Southmont schools a hands-on lesson about finances, careers and the expenses that come with adult life.
The Reality Store will run from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Students will choose a profession or occupation, with some choices based on their GPA, and receive a month’s pre-tax salary. They also will be assigned a marital status and between zero and four children.
Students then will use their salaries to pay for everyday expenses at about 14 different booths. They will start at the tax booth before moving on to areas such as banking, housing, transportation, groceries, child care, furniture and utilities.
Students also can choose whether to have a pet, take a vacation or attend a sporting event, depending on how much money they have left. Some may find they need to take on a second or even third job to cover their expenses.
Just when students think they have everything figured out, they will spin the “Fickle Finger of Fate” wheel, which adds an unexpected event to their financial situation.
The Crawfordsville Indiana Business and Professional Women host the event each year and relies heavily on community support to make it happen.
The IFBPW says that volunteers don’t need previous experience. Volunteers will work at different booths, helping students learn from different scenarios. For example, volunteers at the transportation booth will consider a student’s family size and provide choices for the type and cost of a vehicle. Students then have to balance what they want with what they can afford.
Volunteers can help for the entire day or choose a two-hour time slot. Volunteer shifts are 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Lunch and snacks will be provided.
Anyone interested in volunteering can contact the Crawfordsville Indiana Business and Professional Women for more information.
