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Mrs. Valentino from Arlington, TX is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Fully Funded

Mrs. Valentino's classroom raised $413

From Couch Potato to Growing Tomatoes

My students need gardening materials, including tools, seeds and shovels.

Classroom photo
Mrs. Valentino profile photo
Mrs. Valentino R.F. Patterson Elementary School
Arlington, TX Grades 3-5

My Students

Children in today's society have the benefit of advanced technology, but at the same time a deficiency of time outside observing nature. I want to give all the students at our school the opportunity to be outside, grow their own food, and learn through nature by being responsible for a garden.

Our school is a Title I school with almost 50% on free and reduced lunch.

We have many students who live in apartments and have never had the opportunity to even plant a flower. We began a garden club 2 years ago and incorporate many outdoor learning activities into our curriculum to get the children outside more often. The students seem to enjoy the change from sitting in a classroom. My hope is to encourage them to carry on these activities when they are at home instead of sitting on the couch playing video games.

My Project

I want to plant a community garden in hopes of teaching responsibility, good eating habits, increasing parental involvement, and building community partners. The students will get back to nature by realizing how fun a big mound of dirt can be. They will feel pride in growing their own food, and possibly donating to area food banks and community members in need. Providing them with shovels, trowels, and various seeds will allow us to begin this ongoing project as soon as the next school year begins.

Tending a garden can touch so many aspects of a person's life.

It can provide tranquility, raise self esteem, and increase responsibility. The students of this generation can learn to appreciate nature and realize how fulfilling it is to help others in their community which will, in turn, encourage them to continue helping others in their future. Being active outdoors will teach students that there is much more to being a kids than playing video games.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More than half of students from low‑income households

500 students impacted 5 donors
Mrs. Valentino R.F. Patterson Elementary School Grades 3-5

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Arlington, TX View local requests

More than half of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

500 students impacted 5donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
TROWEL - GARDEN F/WL8321A • Sargent-Welch $5.13 10 $51.30
SHOVEL W/ROUND POINT • Sargent-Welch $21.78 3 $65.34
Gardening Tool Set • Carolina Biological Supply Company $157.70 1 $157.70
SEEDS - RADISH RED 1OZ/PK • Sargent-Welch $3.15 3 $9.45
SEEDS - BEAN GREEN 4OZ/PK • Sargent-Welch $3.15 3 $9.45
SEEDS - CORN 4OZ/PK • Sargent-Welch $5.09 2 $10.18

Materials cost

$303.42

Vendor shipping charges

 $15.77

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$4.55

Fulfillment labor & materials

$35.00

Total project cost

$358.74

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$53.60

Total project goal

$412.34

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $412.34

4 Donors

-$282.00

Donations toward project cost

-$245.34

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$36.66

match offer

-$130.34

Match offer toward project cost

-$113.40

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$16.94

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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Project Activity

Project Activity
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DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Valentino and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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