Art That Warms: Customized Winter Apparel for Our Houseless Neighbors
Help me give my students the ability to transform plain coats and sweaters into beautiful, inspiring pieces of wearable art for our houseless community.
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Ellis Stephens Leadership Class's classroom raised $411
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Project
In our classroom, we don’t just create art—we use it as a tool for connection, dignity, and hope. This project will allow my students to customize donated winter apparel with thoughtful, uplifting designs before distributing them to unhoused individuals near the Tully Road Library. Many of these individuals face harsh conditions and a lack of warmth, not just in clothing but also in human connection. A warm coat can protect the body, but a beautifully designed one can uplift the spirit.
To make this possible, we need special media for our Roland printer to create high-quality, durable heat transfers featuring empowering messages, original student artwork, and culturally relevant visuals that add a personal touch to each coat.
By contributing to this project, you’re not just providing warmth—you’re giving the gift of self-expression, dignity, and creativity to those who need it most. You’re empowering students to use their talents for good, showing them that art isn’t just something to be admired—it can be a force for change.
Our students come from underserved communities, and many have experienced hardship firsthand. This project is more than just an art lesson—it’s a way for them to give back, practice empathy, and see the impact of their creativity in real time. When our students walk up to a houseless individual and hand them a one-of-a-kind, personalized winter coat, they’re learning that their skills can make a difference.
More than three‑quarters 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
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 Mr. Ellis Stephens Leadership Class and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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