Nobody ever says unemployment is great for kids. But according to a recent Idaho Kids Count study titled “Small Faces in a Big Recession,” children have been impacted by the recession in ways that extend beyond the obvious.

According to the study, Idaho children have been neglected — not out of malice but economic necessity — by parents working longer hours and leaving, for example, 9-year-olds at home to babysit 6-year-olds.

Additionally, kids are simply hearing about things they never used to hear about — such as how stressful it is to pay the bills on time, the report claims.

“My observation is that parents are now worrying about the utility bills and normal, everyday things that kids don’t ordinarily pay attention to,” said Leanne Trappen, services director of South Central Community Action Partnership (SCCAP) in Twin Falls. “Parents are now talking about it … We’ve heard from a lot of people worried about Thanksgiving and how to explain to their kids that they’re having chicken this year.”

SCCAP intends to counteract that trend with its 10th annual turkey drive — 60 Hours to Fight Hunger — in which donations of turkeys will be gathered and distributed to about 1,600 families throughout the Magic Valley from Thursday to Saturday.

“We’re seeing a lot of people asking for help who normally are just fine,” Trappen said.

In 2008, the group provided general assistance to about 15,000 people.

“This year, in three-quarters, we’re at about 19,000 — and we’re not done yet,” she said.

Various holiday fundraisers are planned by SCCAP, the need for which, Trappen said, the organization expects to increase significantly this year.

One indicator of how the recession has affected children is applications of free and reduced lunch in school districts.

Beth Pendergrass, spokeswoman for the Twin Falls School District, said demand for assistance has gone up this year by several percentage points. But she was unable to quantify exactly how much because the district won’t be gathering those figures until March, when all of the requests for free and reduced lunches have been submitted.

Associate District Superintendent Patti O’Dell explained that the number of people qualifying for free and reduced lunches helps to determine some of the federal funding for Title 1 schools, part of the No Child Left Behind Act.

The calculation, like all federal programs, is complex and contingent upon myriad factors. But if 35 percent of a school’s population qualifies for subsidized lunch, the school can receive targeted federal assistance. Any school with 40 percent of its students qualifying receives supplemental services such as money for teacher intervention, parent involvement and professional-development programs.

Currently, all Twin Falls District schools are above 40 percent demand for free and reduced lunches — except Canyon Ridge and Twin Falls high schools.

“A few different factors go into that,” O’Dell said. “Many high school students eat lunch off campus and don’t normally apply for assistance.”

Other issues related to the recession have impacted children, many of which are discussed in the Idaho Kids Count report, and will be reported in future articles.

Damon Hunzeker may be reached at dhunzeker@magicvalley.com or 208-735-3204.