Kid Reporters take a look at the economy and how it is affecting kids and their communities during this holiday season. From an interview with Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis to an art display of canned goods to a community food bank program, the Kid Reporters have all the information. Check back throughout December as we post new stories and videos.
Articles
Labor Secretary Optimistic
If you know someone who is out of a job, that is no surprise. The unemployment rate is the highest it has been in 26 years, according to Department of Labor (DOL) figures released in November. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis told the Scholastic Kids Press Corps in a recent interview that President Barack Obama has already begun to tackle that 10.2 percent rate of unemployment.
Elijah's Promise in Need
People in need in the Central New Jersey area are giving thanks to Elijah's Promise this holiday season. Established in 1989 in the city of New Brunswick, Elijah's Promise helps low-income people by providing daily hot meals, job training, health care, and much more.
4-H Cuts Hurt
4-H Clubs across the country are suffering from the downturn in the economy. Weld County, which is one of the largest counties in Colorado in both area and population, is currently facing job layoffs. That means fewer people to help oversee student projects.
PTA Funds Help School
Chocolate sales, car washes, after-school stores, and the PTA are helping Air Base Elementary in Homestead, Florida, raise funds to help save jobs and pay for programs hurt by the downturn in the economy.
Timothy's House of Hope
Hope. That is what people in need find at Timothy's House of Hope in Davenport, Iowa. They also find daily breakfasts, free haircuts, showers, food, and clothing.
Kids Help Out
Times are tougher than usual this year, and kids are feeling the pinch. They are also working to help make things better by volunteering and raising money.
Coats For Kids
Many kids in Evanston, Wyoming, don't have any winter clothes and their parents can't afford to buy them any this season. Coats for Kids was started to help those in need of winter coats and boots.
Helping Hands Need Help
Because of the economy, the Reynoldsburg, Ohio, food bank Reynoldsburg Helping Hands now concentrates all its time and resources on providing food to needy families in the region.
Help for the Homeless
The holiday season is here, with crowded shopping malls, light-strung rooftops, and hopeful wish lists for toys and treats. But for some kids in North San Diego County , the wish list is more basic: They want a home.
Salvation Army Santas
During the holidays, Salvation Army volunteers collect donations with bell ringing and red kettles. But the economic downturn is affecting Salvation Army operations. In Atlanta, the local Salvation Army must raise $200,000 more than last year.
Bigger Classes, Smaller Budgets
Because of mid-year budget reductions, schools like Kyrene De La Estralla, a public elementary school in Phoenix, Arizona, have to get by with less.
- Subjects:Social Studies, Economics
