The holiday season might be winding down, but you still have to opportunity to give especially if you want to help out a local school or classroom.
Dozens of teachers, administrators and others at schools across Orange County have set up crowdfunding projects on the popular nonprofit DonorsChoose.org site.
It’s an easy way for anyone to help a classroom in need, “moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education,” according to the site’s mission statement.
DonorChoose.org allows users to filter by city, zip code, school name or teacher name to find projects for donations. These donations can be in any amount until the project reaches the target dollar amount.
Here are a couple examples:
Color Printer Would Make a World of a Difference!
Mrs. Nabily, a teacher at Sonora Elementary in Costa Mesa, is asking for $459.66 to purchase an HP laser printer for visual learning projects for her students.
“Our classroom does not currently have a colored printer. All of my students are special needs children with autism who often need visual supports to assist with learning various skills. Printing visual supports in black and white does not do them justice. My students need to visually see color in order to gain their attention and focus on the task at hand. I’m requesting an HP multi-function colored printer,” the teacher said on the website.
From BB-8 to Create & Innovate!
Ms. Crail, a teacher at Lake Forest Elementary, is asking for $577.21 to help purchase 2 Sphero SPRKs and Dash and Dot Robot accessories to help her students with coding projects that can improve their science, technology, engineering and technology — or STEM — skills.
“The materials and accessories that I am requesting for my students will enhance our Tech Fridays as well as allow for alternative creative assessment of learning. We currently have 2 Dash robots. However, with 30 students, the students do not get as much time on the technology as one would wish. Incorporating 2 Sphero Sprk+ will add two more robots to our rotation, allowing more students to be actively involved and hands-on trial and error,” she said on the site.
DonorChoose.org was started by Bronx history teacher Charles Best. He wanted his students to read “Little House on the Prairie.” As he was making photocopies of the one book he could procure, Best thought about all the money he and his colleagues were spending on books, art supplies and other materials. And he figured there were people out there who’d want to help if they could see where their money was going.