Child Poverty in St. Louis City Schools


by Katie Martin

Shoes

Rose Hanley, co-founder of TLBF, met a little girl at Herzog Elementary last week whose shoes were in great need of replacement. Rose and the volunteers gave her new shoes and socks, and the little girl told them that she’d be running in an upcoming city race in the new shoes.  According to Rose, “[She] was picked by her gym teacher to run in the city track meet because she is the fastest child in her grade; imagine how fast she will run with the proper shoes.”

These shoes would not be possible without the recent generous support of Brown Shoe Company. Their donation of 518 pairs of new shoes in various sizes allows The Little Bit Foundation to continue their mission in each of the thirteen schools they serve.

The city of St. Louis has a 27 percent poverty rate, according to a 2010 report by St. Louis Public Radio. In addition, the level of child poverty in St. Louis city is the highest of the states’ 114 counties, at about 75 percent. Three-fourths of St. Louis city public school students are enrolled in free or reduced-price lunch programs. The high school drop-out rate is 22 percent, compared to 3.9 percent throughout the rest of Missouri.*

New Shoes!Thankfully, there are other statistics to report. The Little Bit Foundation (TLBF) currently serves thirteen of those St. Louis city public schools. This equals about 3,000 students, as of October 1, 2010. Even though schools like the International Welcome School have approximately 30 new students each week, who all have great need for TLBF’s services, the foundation is able to serve all of them with the tools to be prepared for school.

The Little Bit Foundation would like to sincerely thank all of its friends, volunteers, donors and cheerleaders for doing “a little bit more” so that the message and work of The Little Bit Foundation can continue to reach children in need in the St. Louis area.

Four short words sum up what has lifted most successful individuals above the crowd: a little bit more. They did all that was expected of them and a little bit more.
~A. Lou Vickery

Sources:
www.publicbroadcasting.net/kwmu
blogs.riverfronttimes.com