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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Boettcher from Waukegan, IL is requesting lab equipment through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Boettcher is requesting

MES Grow Club Essentials

Help me give my students tools to maintain and allow their garden to thrive.

  • $1,131 goal

This project expired on October 15, 2025.

This project expired on October 15, 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

The "Grow Club" goal in Spring 2025 was to build a pollinator garden, and we were supported by the University of Illinois Extension Office Master Gardeners. With their gardening support and consultation, and by using a social-emotional curriculum called "Grow Club - Social Emotional Gardening Program," the after-school club met twice per week, giving third, fourth, and fifth graders time to engage in their learning. Kids learned about planting seeds, caring for plants, composting, and the importance of pollinators. They also discussed self-care, teamwork, and how to handle challenges, connecting these lessons to both gardening and daily life.

This spring, we finished the first stage of our garden, though our project still continues.

We need a rolling garden cart with a seat and tools to maintain and help keep our garden thriving for the seasons to come. The Garden "GROW" Club at our school taught students how to garden and work together, while also helping them understand their emotions and build resilience. With your support, we will be able to maintain this work for students to come.

Ms. Boettcher H.R. McCall Elementary School Grades 3-5

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.

Waukegan, IL View local requests

Nearly all 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

20 students impacted

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Gardening Tool Set • Carolina Biological Supply Company $196.70 4 $786.80
Rolling Garden Cart with Seat - Plastic Storage with Bench and Interior Tool Tray - Gardening Stool for Weeding and Planting By Pure Garden (Green) • Amazon Business $29.99 1 $29.99

Materials cost

$816.79

Vendor shipping charges

 $102.28

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$12.25

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$961.32

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$169.64

Total project goal

$1,130.96

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

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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 Ms. Boettcher and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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