Many children across Northwest Arkansas awoke this morning in a cold, dark house. No gas for heat, no electricity for cooking and no food in the cupboard.
People live in poverty in Springdale, Fayetteville and other cities and towns in Northwest Arkansas.
The situation is especially hard on school children, whose only warm coat may be a handme-down from the clothes closet in the Springdale School District nursing service division. Or whose only pair of shoes were broken in by someone else and obtained at Fayetteville’s Outback clothing and food pantry operated by the school district’s social workers.
The work of school nurses and social workers is to remove the barriers that exist in a child’s life that may impede learning.
“They are focusing their energy on pain or discomfort, not on the teacher,” said Kathy Launder, head of the nursingservice for the Springdale School District. She worries about the children whose only hot meals of the day are the ones they get in the cafeteria.
“Kids in poverty are less likely to be reading at grade level, they are less likely to graduate fromhigh school and less likely to have access to doctors,” said Laura Kellems, the Northwest Arkansas director for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. “Sometimes kids inpoverty don’t even have the boot straps to pull themselves up.”
The American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau states child poverty increased 5 percent in Northwest Arkansas from 2008 to 2009, Kellams said.
Child poverty in Arkansas is 27 percent. Northwest Arkansas is at 25 percent, according to the American Community Survey.
“We’re seeing more and more grandparents raising grandchildren,” said Ananda Rosa, social work coordinator for the Fayetteville School District. The social work department plans to give out some 400 food baskets for Christmas. That’s an increase from the 350 given away last year.
Children often turn to their teachers or school counselors to help them through life’s rough spots. It is those same teachers and counselors who step up to provide the clothes, shoes or food their students need. They, in turn, use money donated by readers of NorthwestArkansas Newspapers’ publications through the company’s annual Community Christmas Card campaign.
Help is needed again this year.
For every $2 donation, Northwest Arkansas Newspapers will publish the donor’s name in a full-page Community Christmas Card that will be published Dec. 25. Contributors can designate the school district they want to receive their donation.
It is a gift that gives long after the lights and ornaments are packed away.
Nurses, teachers, social workers or others use the money to help children throughout the year with needs, from shoes or coats to doctors’ visits to food to take home on the weekends.
The money they spend comes in large part from the generosity of our readers.
School officials are reluctant to discuss specific cases because of privacy concerns.
“They come to us in complete crisis,” said Ananda Rosa, social work coordinator for the Fayetteville School District.
She is currently trying to resolve a housing issuefor a couple and their five children, who are living in a hotel. They don’t receive food stamps or other social services.
“This is one of many. A lot a families are in complete crisis,” Rosa said.
Marian Riner, the family in transition coordinator in Fayetteville schools, works with children who are homeless. Last year, she worked with 220 students and their families throughout the year. This year, Riner said she has seen 153 students and is on track to see more than she did last year.
“The largest number are living in doubled up situations, and we’re seeing a lot more families in hotels, motels and shelter,” Riner said. Community support provides hope for these families, she added.
Launder said the money donated by Community Christmas Card contributors is spent on eye exams, eyeglasses, doctor visits, medication, dental care, clothes, coats, shoes, food and school supplies.
“The biggest need is eye exams and eyeglasses,” Launder said. Last year, the nurses attended to the needs of 2,253 children, she said.
“It gets worse as it gets colder,” Rosa said.
News, Pages 1 on 12/01/2010