We could use Gates’ money here at home

I don’t understand Bill and Melinda Gates’ interest in giving $168 million overseas to fight malaria. I do not mean to say that this illness is not devastating, but there is so much need here at home. I would love to see money like that donated to some of our own citizens – especially the children. We are nation in an epidemic of divorce and chaos and uncertainty. Our children suffer from the decisions made by the adults in charge of them. Sometimes the adults are irresponsible, sometimes it is just circumstance and they are doing the best they can with what resources they have.

Children go to school every day hungry and we expect them to do their best. Do the Gates’ know that many children cannot eat nutritiously because dad is actually a responsible parent and is paying child support for a previous marriage? In our state, child support is not deducted off income when you apply for reduced lunches. Why does our state punish children of a second marriage?

Kids here in the U.S. need as much help as anywhere. We need programs for our kids to help them through the uncertain times, the frightening times and give them a bit of a boost on occasion. School used to achieve this but not today. Teachers are overworked, and kids are too smart to believe the overused “pleasure to have in class” anymore, especially when the child is acting out, screaming for attention and help. Could someone, please, have as much empathy for our kids as they do for causes like malaria?

Monroe