You're on track to get doubled donations (and unlock a reward for the colleague who referred you). Keep up the great work!
Take credit for your charitable giving! Check out your tax receipts
To use your $50 gift card credits, find a project to fund and we'll automatically apply your credits at checkout. Find a classroom project
Skip to main content

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Your school email address was successfully verified.

See this teacher's page

This teacher needs your help!

Mr. Merlino from Daly City, CA is requesting lab equipment through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mr. Merlino is requesting

Fish to Food

Help me give my students the resources needed to construct an aquaponic system that can provide food to our community.

  • $825 goal

This project expired on July 5, 2025.

This project expired on July 5, 2025.

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate 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

We are seeking funding to establish an aquaponic system to enhance STEM education and provide fresh food for our community. This hands-on project will teach middle school students about sustainable agriculture, biology, chemistry, and engineering, while engaging them in real-world problem-solving. Students will maintain the system, grow produce, and distribute it to local families in need. The project will also empower students to apply STEM principles to address global issues like food insecurity. This initiative will foster community engagement and promote sustainable practices while developing future leaders in STEM and agriculture.

Mr. Merlino Benjamin Franklin Intermediate School Grades 6-8

Equity Focus

This project directly supports students at a historically underfunded school. Learn more about our Equity Focus.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Daly City, CA 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

Boost your odds

Add a profile photo in addition to your classroom photo. If you add a photo, it'll show up right here on your project page.

You are more likely to receive funding if you put a face to your name.

Upload a photo

Top rated for efficiency and transparency.

You donate directly to the teacher or project you care about and see where every dollar you give goes.

Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Mr. Merlino is requesting.

See our finances

TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

You can start a project with the same resources being requested here!

Where Your Donation Goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total
AquaSprouts Garden • Carolina Biological Supply Company $180.76 3 $542.28

Materials cost

$542.28

Vendor shipping charges

$70.50

Sales tax

$49.62

3rd party payment processing fee

$8.13

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$700.53

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$123.62

Total project goal

$824.15

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

View complete list Show less

Give the most requested basic supplies

See teacher requests

Give back to your community

Find opportunities to impact local needs by exploring a map of classroom projects near you.

See local area

Project Activity

{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":false,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"CA","teacherPossessivePronoun":"his","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":3,"name":"Middle School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":825,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/fish-to-food/9147284/","mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":500,"isEquityFocusV1":true,"teacherScreenName":"Mr. Merlino","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"1516950617","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":0.00,"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"photosPublished":false,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"shouldTrackEquityFocusV2":true,"schoolCity":"Daly City","teachersOnPage":[168040],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":false,"proposalId":9147284,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":1,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"schoolId":4525,"schoolName":"Benjamin Franklin Intermediate School","authorIds":{"168040":{"owner":"Mr. Merlino","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":0.0,"proposalsOnPage":[9147284],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp168040_orig.jpg?crop=400,400,x200,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1598128423264","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":6,"teacherChallengeId":33647,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":{"completingDonationAmount":322,"proposalURL":"project/exploring-the-microscopic-world/9966843/","proposalTitle":"Exploring the Microscopic World","proposalId":9966843},"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":[],"teacherId":168040,"schoolCounty":"San Mateo","fullyFunded":false,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"CA","name":"California"}}