Head Start Helps Children

While writing my community service research paper I discovered a national program called, Head Start, that is specifically for helping children growing up in poor families. This program focuses on one of the main parts to my community service topic, which is poverty. There are many children born into families that are unable to afford any sort of education for them. I visited the Head Start website to find more details about the program.

"Head Start is a national program that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families."

Safes Along the Sea Shore

The earthquake and tsunami in Japan left many people without any of their personal belongings and homes. One month following the disasters, belongings are beginning to wash up on the shores. Japanese culture and tradition cause many citizens of Japan to stash a lot of their money in safes in their homes. Those who couldn't evacuate quickly enough, lost much of their savings along with their houses. Tomoko Hosaka wrote an article depicting and explaining the massive number of dented metal boxes that have washed up.
Hosaka points out that because so many Japanese citizens keep their savings at home, there is about $350 billion worth of yen that doesn't circulate. Workers are attempting to identify the safes and are trying to successfully return them to their owners. The loss of so much money only further increases the amount of poverty and homelessness in a country under so much stress.

Project Linus Promo Video

Project Linus Promo Video:



This is a fun and easy way to help out children dealing with an illness or living in poor conditions.

Children Living in Poverty

Here is an informative video about the many children living in poverty. Children International is an organization that allows you to sponsor a child. Sponsoring a child helps with medical expenses and gives an undernourished child more food.

Community Service Research Paper

The Increase in Poverty and How it Effects Children

            In addressing the issue of child poverty I decided to make blankets to donate to the Project Linus non-profit organization. This organization has over 300 chapters spread all over the United States. Each chapter collects blankets to distribute to children who are ill, traumatized or simply in need of something to provide comfort and security. Poverty has been a growing problem in the United States for a long time and with the economy today, it is only getting increasingly worse. It is unfortunate for the children who are born into poor families. Many of these children experience malnutrition and unsafe living conditions (Haerens, Bloom). It has been reported that there is an increasing number of children who are being moved into foster homes because their families are unable to pay their bills, which establishes unsanitary and unbearable living situations (Bloom). Bloom reveals that, “Study after study reviewed by Northwestern University law professor Dorothy Roberts in her book Shattered Bonds: The Color of Child Welfare shows that poverty is the leading cause of children landing in foster care” (Bloom). In her article, Bloom tells two tragic stories of mothers who lost their children to foster care because of their inability to maintain a safe living environment. Child-welfare workers, who are employed by the government, are responsible for the removal of these children. It is heart breaking to understand that these children are being separated from their families, but at the same time, the government is protecting these children by providing them with a safer place to grow. Not only is it an issue of safety but Haerens also reports about the health risks that children growing up in poverty face. It is important that people recognize how many children are separated from their parents and the hardships they face. Haerens further explains that poverty is one the principle causes of hunger. She goes on to say that, “The causes of poverty include poor people's lack of resources, an extremely unequal income distribution in the world and within specific countries, conflict, and hunger itself” (Haerens). The number of people living below the poverty line in developing countries and the United States are unable to make enough money to feed themselves and their children. It seems that malnutrition takes the biggest toll on children. Haerens writes that, “Children who are poorly nourished suffer up to 160 days of illness each year. Poor nutrition plays a role in at least half of the 10.9 million child deaths each year—five million deaths” (Haerens). The more informed people are, the more they can try to help, like the Project Linus organization.

            The government has passed various laws and acts in order to try to combat the economic struggles our nation has faced over several years. President Lyndon B. Johnson passed the Economic Opportunity Act in 1964 in an attempt to help the unemployed get back into the workforce. Each section of the act deals with the necessary procedures in developing all kinds of businesses and corporations (Economic). One of the sections is devoted to getting young people involved in the workforce and helping them keep their jobs while enrolled in college. The document states,

The purpose of this part is to stimulate and promote the part-time employment of students who are enrolled as undergraduate, graduate, or professional students and who are in need of earnings from employment to pursue courses of study at eligible institutions, and to encourage students receiving Federal student financial assistance to participate in community service activities that will benefit the Nation and engender in the students a sense of social responsibility and commitment to the community (Economic).

It is especially important that young people are encouraged to hold a job while in school so that they will have money to properly raise a family when they are ready. Many people graduate with huge amounts of debt from their college tuition and then go on to attempt to start a family. It is important that people understand the commitment they are making when they have children. In another section of the document, the government addresses the minimum wages that should be paid to people in certain job categories.

All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors in the construction, alteration, or repair, including painting or decorating, of buildings or other facilities in connection with projects assisted under this subchapter, shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar construction in the locality, as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act (Economic).

It is essential that the government set these limitations in place in order to control part of the population’s income. With this document the government is regulating people’s salaries to help minimize the amount of people living below the poverty line.

            President Johnson addressed the poverty issue again by getting the Food Stamp Act of 1964 passed by congress. This act outlines the Food Stamp Program, which provides vouchers for low-income families at certain grocery stores. With these vouchers, people with less money are able to afford food and other household items for their family (Food). The document states that its main purpose is,

To strengthen the agricultural economy; to help to achieve a fuller and more effective use of food abundance; to provide for improved levels of nutrition among low-income households through a cooperative Federal-State program of food assistance to be operated through normal channels of trade; and for other purposes (Food).

The act continues on to define what makes a family eligible for the food stamps. The Food and Agricultural Act of 1977 eventually surpassed the Food Stamp Act, which made it easier for families to qualify for receiving the food stamps (Food). These laws address our nation’s issue with poverty and are helping many of America’s citizens. Although these laws have been a great help to many there is still a problematic number of people still living below the poverty line and there are large amounts of children growing up in unsatisfactory living conditions.

            The government has and still is creating all sorts of new programs for the benefit of America’s citizens. There have been many programs started that provide aid through job searching and training, like the Job Corps, which “was designed to give underprivileged teenagers and young adults the necessary training for long-term employment opportunities” (War). Today, the Job Corps runs their program in over 120 locations across the United States and is training about 100,000 people between the ages of 16 and 24 (War). There is another program called Head Start, which was designed to, “provide comprehensive educational and health services to preschool-aged children in low-income families. An estimated 23 million children have participated in Head Start since the program's inception in 1965” (War). Head Start is exactly the type of program that I feel contributes most to my community service topic. My topic addresses the issues that children face when growing up below the poverty line or in a low-income family. Project Linus is an organization that is geared toward providing comfort and security for these children. Head Start is focused on the education and health of children growing up with poor families. Being born into these situations, these children are not granted the same opportunities as those growing up in stable homes with working parents. Programs like Head Start give hope to these children and provide a basic education for them. With just a basic start in learning from this program, underprivileged children can then continue to stay in school and try to overcome the hard life that they were born into. President Johnson continued his fight against poverty by signing the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act in 1965 (War). This act established the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which “was created in 1965 as a Cabinet-level agency to increase homeownership, support community development, and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination” (Marr).  One of the main goals of the HUD was to recognize the decrease in housing affordability and find ways for poorer people to able to purchase homes. Later on, HUD assumed the role of a government agency that directs programs in battling the rise of homelessness (Marr). HUD continues this battle by providing funding for government programs (War).

            My community service project does not directly confront the issue of the increasing amount of families living under the poverty line, but it does address the hardships that children face when growing up in poor conditions. It felt satisfying to be making something from scratch for the pure enjoyment of a child in need. I had never made a blanket before. The first one that I made took me a long time, but by the time I got to my third and fourth blanket I was getting the hang of it. I tried to make as many as I could while still putting in a great amount of effort in order to produce high quality blankets. I know the children must appreciate each blanket they ever receive but I want it to be obvious that I did the best I could. It feels great to receive a brand new blanket, but it feels even better to know that the blanket maker put in high quality just for you.

Works Cited

1. "Children Are in Foster Care Because They Are Poor." Foster Care. Ed. Debra Bloom. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 5 Apr. 2011.

2. "Economic Opportunity Act (1964)." Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 9 Apr. 2011.

3. "Food Stamp Act (1964)." Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 9 Apr. 2011.

4. Marr, Matthew. "U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ." Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 9 Apr. 2011.

5. "Poverty Is a Root Cause of Malnutrition." Hunger Notes (1 Mar. 2008). Rpt. in Malnutrition. Ed. Margaret Haerens. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 10 Apr. 2011.

6. "War on Poverty." Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 9 Apr. 2011.

Project Linus' Plan for Japan

Cathy Dyson posted a notice from the Project Linus organization explaining that they are making an extra push for blankets to be sent to Japan. The idea is to get as many blankets as possible to send to children in Japan. The organization also plans to keep some blankets in the US that will be distributed to families that are being evacuated to the US while their neighborhoods are being rebuilt. The article discusses the efforts of the Soldiers Angels organization that will be providing shelter for victims of the earthquake and tsunami. I hope that the blankets that I made will be donated to anyone who survived the catastrophe in Japan.

Help For Japan

After the major disaster in Japan, millions are left without electricity, heat and most importantly, homes. Poverty is spread all over the world, but after disasters like the ones in Japan, some areas are stricken with a large amount of people without any shelter. At this time, it is expected that the rest of the world brings aid to Japan. Help is needed to build shelters an rebuild facilities. Food and clothing donations are valuable as well. In a situation like this, perhaps a simple blanket or stuffed animal would be appreciated as well. Those who lost their homes, lost everything they had. If I was living in Japan at this time I would cherish anything that I can hug and use to keep warm.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

High Poverty Destabilizes Nation

There is much focus on the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, but Joe Guzzardi reports about the poverty in Egypt. He writes that, ever since Mubarak's approval of family planning, the Egyptian population has doubled to 82 million. He further explains that,

"More than 15 million Egyptians live on less than $1 a day, a key factor driving last month's protests. The divide in Egypt between rich and poor, where resistance to birth control is high, is startling.
Even though Egypt has severely limited resources, especially fertile land and water (only 3 inches of rain falls annually), the numbers of poor steadily increases."

 Guzzardi suggests that the Egyptian crisis was not only caused by Mubarak's corrupt dictatorship, but also a "failed" population. Overpopulation seems to be the major problem contributing to the poverty issue.

"Egyptian high fertility has imposed costly socioeconomic burdens on the nation. Economic development is stalled and quality of life eroded because of reduced access to jobs, education, water and food.
Little wonder Egyptians took to the streets. But too many decades ignoring an exploding population have left Egypt with few options for future improvement."

How to Make a No Sew Blanket

I plan to donate at least four blankets to Project Linus for my community service project. I have no sewing experience so I decided to use this technique to make fleece blankets. This is a video provided by blanket makers for Project Linus on how to go about making this kind of blanket. It is very simple, so take a look and give it a shot!

Trapped In Poverty

This is a report on people living in poverty who can afford shelter but are unable to afford furniture. Is it worth paying for a home if you are unable to have a bed to sleep in? An organization in Washington D.C. travels around the area donating used furniture to families living in homes who are unable to purchase furniture. Many Americans including children are going to sleep at night without a bed to sleep in. Thanks to this organization, more people are being provided with furniture.

Medicine for the Soul

Details on the background and process of Project Linus.

Let Every Child be like Linus

Remember the character named Linus from Peanuts? The little boy who always carried around his blanket. There happens to be an institution called "Project Linus," which gives blankets out to children in need. This organization has several chapters spread out all across the country. Project Linus collects blanket donations and delivers them to children who are ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. I plan to donate the blankets that I am making to this organization. They will accept many different kinds of blankets as long as they are washable and homemade. I have already made two blankets using the fleece fringe style. To learn more information about this organization, visit their website.

The Poorest County in America

Ziebach County in South Dakota has been named America's poorest county. More than 60 percent of the citizens live at or below the poverty line. A large portion of the county's citizens live on the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian reservation which suffers from the bad economy as well. Unemployment among this tribe has hit as high as 90 percent. Norman Merchant from the Associated Press reports that,

"Poverty has loomed over this land for generations. Repeated attempts to create jobs have run into stubborn obstacles: the isolated location, the area's crumbling infrastructure, a poorly trained population and a tribe that struggles to work with businesses or attract investors."

Indian reservations tend to suffer because modernization is simply not a part of their culture. The reservations are gradually industrializing but at this rate, they are unable to keep up with the unstable economy. Ziebach County also suffers because of its lack of natural resources. There is a lot of land available for agriculture but it is lacking in oil reserves. The county is working on finding ways to bring in more jobs and help those in serious need.

FAQ About Poverty

The National Poverty Center website established by the University of Michigan, offers information about events, the organization, opportunities to help and also some interesting facts. The word, poverty, covers a large spectrum of topics that are associated to it. There are certain limits and standards set for one to be considered living in poverty.

"A family is counted as poor if its pretax money income is below its poverty threshold. Money income does not include noncash benefits such as public housing, Medicaid, employer-provided health insurance and food stamps."

It is important to take a look at the statistics to get an idea of how many people are suffering in this lifestyle. The more educated we are about it, the better we can help.

Escalating Poverty in California

Ethel Long-Scott reports for KALW News that poverty in California reflects or may be even worse than the circumstances in Michigan. Poverty is one of the nation's largest problems that society faces today. There are homeless shelters and charities, but it doesn't seem to be quite enough considering the ever increasing statistics. Long-Scott reveals that,

"Nearly 1 in 4 California residents lacked health insurance for part or all of 2009, that is roughly 8.2 million people. California also has the third highest rate of official unemployment at 12.6% and the fourth highest rate of home foreclosures at 12.4%, even worse than Michigan. When we look closer in particular locations, the numbers are even worse. Cities like Richmond, Hayward, and Oakland have unemployment and poverty rates well above the state and national average."

With the budget cuts to Universities, young people are having a harder time paying for an education. The increased tuition forces many people to drop out of school. Those lacking a college degree struggle getting a job which initiates their fall toward homelessness. The instability of the economy is having a negative influence on the poverty situation all over America and especially in California.