Editor’s note: Today’s letters to the editor are from Southwest Junior High students learning about persuasive writing.

To the editor:

I have been noticing that most people are unaware or uninformed that poverty is happening here in Lawrence as well as in other parts of the world. Why should we care?

When people have poor living conditions, they can get sick and cannot do their best. If the parents work three jobs a day, then they have no time to spend with their kids and cannot make sure that they do their schoolwork. Also if they get poor nutrition, that could also cause poor grades. If they don’t do well in school, then they can’t go to college and don’t have a good education. Therefore, they can’t get a good job. It’s the circle of poverty.

What can we do to help? One thing we can do is to raise the minimum wage. Then, moms don’t have to work three jobs a day to put food on the table and can help their kids in school. That will help the kids to get a good education and raise themselves up in the world.

What else can we do? Donate needed items like coats, mittens, canned food and money. You can donate to the Penn House at 1035 Pennsylvania St. Please help by donating items today.

Zachary Spears,

Southwest Junior High