A group of 40 Butler County residents turned out Saturday to raise awareness for the county’s less fortunate and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul that helps them.

The annual Friends of the Poor Walk is a great event for Butler County as it raises money for the society, a voluntary organization in the Catholic Church that provides services for the poor.

The society’s food bank serves between 550 and 600 families, manager Lew Czzowitz said, and that number is expected to rise as the weather gets colder. The society also operates a thrift store and provides other services for the poor.

According to World Population Review, Pennsylvania has the 29th worst poverty rate — 12.6 percent — in the nation.

Butler County fares better than the state overall with an 8.4 percent poverty rate, according to U.S. Census data.

But while a majority of people live above the poverty line, a 2018 CNN Business report discovered that a whopping 43 percent of U.S. residents can barely afford such basic necessities as paying rent or putting food on the table.

In other words, you don’t have to be in poverty to struggle to make ends meet.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics defines the “working poor” as people who spend 27 weeks or more annually in the labor force, but whose incomes are below the poverty line. While approximately 40.6 million people in 2016 were considered to be impoverished, 7.6 million were working poor.

These people often find themselves in limbo — they qualify for government assistance, but could lose access to food stamps or health insurance if the number of hours they work fluctuates between pay periods.

While some try to wean themselves off government aid, it can be difficult for single parents raising a child and living on the minimum wage to do so.

As a result, it’s difficult for the working poor to lift themselves out of poverty, and they often end up spending everything they have on necessities.

While one single entity cannot overcome the county’s poverty rate, we’re fortunate to have the St. Vincent de Paul Society looking out for our less fortunate residents.

Its annual walk raises awareness for the county’s poor, with the goal of convincing residents to donate. Soon, the society will begin its next initiative — a holiday food drive.

Those in need, regardless of religion, can pick up supplies from its food bank once per month after they provide proof of residence and the number of family members.

We hope Butler County will be inspired to donate to this wonderful organization.