“I’m Going Broke!”
By Magen Pillar, Director of Communications, United Way of Bartholomew County
“I’m going broke!”
That was the phrase I heard again and again as eighth graders filed through the gymnasium at Central Middle School for the annual Reality Store. Each student clutched a sheet of paper outlining their “adult life” — their career, salary, family size, even the number of kids and pets they’d chosen. For a few brief moments, they held the world at their fingertips.
Then reality set in.
As it does for every adult, and even more harshly for the 13% of people in our community who live below the federal poverty line and the 33% of working families who still struggle to afford basic needs like food, housing, and child care.
The Reality Store, hosted by the Bartholomew County Financial Literacy Coalition, gives every eighth grader in our community a glimpse into the financial responsibilities that come with adulthood. It is a powerful exercise and one that reminds me why the work we do at United Way of Bartholomew County matters so deeply.
As the director of communications at United Way, I spend my days sharing stories about families working hard to overcome barriers that often begin early in life. Many of the people we serve did not have access to the same financial lessons, support systems, or role models that teach responsibility and planning. When those supports are not in place, children grow up without the skills or safety nets that lead to stability. That is how generational poverty takes root and why breaking that cycle takes an entire community working together.
The Experience
On a chilly Friday morning, I checked in at the Reality Store and took my spot at the veterinary and pet care booth. My job was to remind students that love for their furry or scaly companions comes with a price tag.
Each student made their way around the gym, budgeting for essentials like housing, transportation, and groceries before arriving at my station. I asked how many pets they owned. Some proudly declared “two dogs!” or “two cats and a dog!” Then I showed them the cost — hundreds of dollars a year in food, vet bills, and basic care.
One student had chosen ten rats. Another, with three dogs, quickly learned that her budget would not stretch that far. When her teacher gently suggested she might need a second job to afford her pets, her eyes widened. A few moments later, another student sighed as he did the math. “I’m going to live with my parents forever,” he said.
For some families, that is not an option. And that is where organizations like United Way of Bartholomew County step in.
The Mission
At United Way of Bartholomew County, we work every day to lift families out of poverty and help them reach self-sufficiency. We partner with local nonprofits to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring. We fund programs that provide safe housing, job training, early childhood education, and access to mental health services. We connect people with immediate resources like food and utility assistance and with long-term supports that build stability, such as financial coaching, literacy programs, and affordable childcare.
Our stated mission is to mobilize Bartholomew County to end generational poverty.
Why It Matters
Watching those eighth graders wrestle with their budgets was both heartwarming and sobering. For many of them, this was the first time they had truly connected the dots between education, income, and financial security.
If experiences like the Reality Store can plant a seed of awareness, if even one student walks away thinking differently about their future, then we are one step closer to a Bartholomew County where everyone can reach their full potential.
At United Way, we believe that real change begins when people understand not just what poverty looks like but why it exists, and when we all take responsibility for building a community where everyone has a fair shot.
Because no eighth grader’s “I’m going broke” moment should have to become their reality.
