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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Hoekstra from Muskegon, MI is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Hoekstra is requesting

Realistic Emotional Support Library Pets

Help me give my students the comfort they so often need through the gift of these social-emotional support library pets. They may borrow a coordinating book to take home and even read one to our new pets!

FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. Hoekstra's classroom raised $245

This project is fully funded

My Project

For the 600 students I see each week, school is often the only source of comfort, safety, and stability they have. Sadly, family traumas such as: abuse, neglect, household challenges (parental: substance abuse/dependence, incarceration, mental illness, divorce/parent separation) homelessness, and food insecurity are real burdens they are forced to live with and cannot control.

As a teacher, I see firsthand the importance of putting the emotional needs of my students first and want to provide a library environment that is welcoming, safe, and comforting.

Without these necessary components, children do not feel safe taking the risks (i.e., volunteering, failing, trying) that are so often required when learning.

In an effort to create a space where students feel emotionally supported, I sought permission to procure a live emotional support animal for the library and found there were allergies and other challenges that made this too difficult. As such, I am seeking your support in providing my students with the next best thing--an adorable and realistic pair of lifelike emotional support pets that feel real and even appear to breathe! I am also requesting several coordinating cat and dog books that students can checkout and read to the library pets as they snuggle alongside them. My hope is they will come to love these 'listening' animals and recall the happy, quality time spent with them as they later take their books home to read again and again.

Mrs. Hoekstra Cardinal 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.

Muskegon, MI 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

600 students impacted 4donors

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Perfect Petzzz Golden Retriever • School Specialty $41.99 1 $41.99
Perfect Petzzz Calico Cat • School Specialty $41.99 1 $41.99
Buddy's Magic Window - A Little Dog's Big Adventure • Amazon Business $18.95 1 $18.95
The Lost Library • Amazon Business $16.19 1 $16.19
Cat Problems (Animal Problems) • Amazon Business $12.99 1 $12.99
Duracell Coppertop D Batteries, 8 Count Pack, D Battery with Long-lasting Power, All-Purpose Alkaline D Battery for Household and Office Devices • Amazon Business $10.99 1 $10.99
Jack the Library Cat • Amazon Business $10.99 1 $10.99
Love Is My Favorite Thing • Amazon Business $7.18 1 $7.18
Escape from the Twin Towers (Ranger in Time #11) (11) • Amazon Business $5.99 1 $5.99

Materials cost

$167.26

Vendor shipping charges

 $8.40

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$2.51

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$208.17

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$36.74

Total project goal

$244.91

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $244.91

4 Donors

-$236.08

Donations toward project cost

-$208.17

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$27.91

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$8.83

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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 Mrs. Hoekstra and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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