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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Shoemaker from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA is requesting art supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Shoemaker is requesting

Stitching for Sustainability: Sewing Skills & Student Start-Ups!

Help me give my students fabric, thread, sewing needles, fabric glue, stuffing for making a plush toy, and fabric markers. The Project: Creating a Stuffy and a Business

FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Shoemaker's classroom raised $333

This project is fully funded

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

As a middle school teacher passionate about equipping students with real-world skills, I’m excited to launch a new interdisciplinary unit that combines environmental education, hands-on creativity, and entrepreneurial thinking. With your help, we can bring sewing supplies into our classroom to teach students practical and sustainable life skills that will benefit them for years to come.

Why Sewing?

Many students today have never learned basic sewing skills like mending a hole, hemming pants, or replacing a button. These simple but essential skills empower students to care for their clothing instead of throwing it away, reducing textile waste and promoting sustainable habits. This unit will give students confidence in their ability to repair rather than replace—an important step toward environmental responsibility.

The Project: Creating a Stuffy and a Business

Each student will design and sew their own "stuffy" (a small plush toy), learning how to measure, cut, hand stitch, and use a sewing machine safely. Beyond crafting, this stuffy becomes the centerpiece of a creative business project. Students will form mock companies and prepare "Shark Tank"-style pitches to present their unique stuffy product to a panel of mock investors (teachers, staff, or community members). They'll learn about product design, branding, pricing, and marketing—all while developing communication.

This unit teaches more than sewing—it’s about problem-solving, innovation, and environmental consciousness. Students explore how textile waste impacts the environment and consider how upcycling and thoughtful design can lead to more sustainable practices. They apply these insights to their product pitches, emphasizing how their stuffy companies would operate responsibly in a real-world economy.

Ms. Shoemaker Rudecinda S Dodson Middle 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.

Rancho Palos Verdes, 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

25 students impacted 7donors

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

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Fairfield Silky Poly-Fil, Premium Polyester Fiber Fill, Soft Pillow Stuffing for Peaceful Sleep, Stuffing for Stuffed Animals and Toys, 5 lb Box • Amazon Business $53.40 1 $53.40
Dixon 9" x 12" Soft, Felt Sheets - 12 Sheets • Kaplan Early Learning Company $10.76 4 $43.04
Tulip Opaque Fabric Markers, Assorted Colors, Set of 15, Gold • School Specialty $32.47 1 $32.47
40 Pcs 10 x 10 Inches Spring Floral Quilting Cotton Fabric Bundle Squares Precut Fabric Multi Color Floral Fat Squares Sheets for DIY Craft Scrapbooking Quilting Sewing • Amazon Business $12.99 2 $25.98
2-Pack - BLACK & WHITE - Coats & Clark Dual Duty All-Purpose Thread - One 400 Yard Spool each of BLACK & White • Amazon Business $7.00 2 $14.00
Smart-Fab Fabric - Sheets, 12" x 18", Pkg of 45, Black • Blick Art Materials $10.75 1 $10.75
Smart-Fab Fabric - Sheets, 12" x 18", Pkg of 45, White • Blick Art Materials $10.75 1 $10.75
42 Color (2300Y) Sewing Thread Kit High Strength Thread Rainbow Color for Manual Embroidery or Sewing Machine Sewing kit Embroidery Free 30 Quality Golden Tail Needles • Amazon Business $10.38 1 $10.38
Large-Eye Needles for Hand Sewing, 50pcs Premium Large Eye Sewing Needles with Threaders and Storage Tube 5 Size Large Eye Pointed Stitching Needles for Stitching Crafting Projects and Embroidery • Amazon Business $4.97 2 $9.94
Aleene's Felt Adhesive Fabric Glue, White (43234) • Amazon Business $5.99 1 $5.99

Materials cost

$216.70

Vendor shipping charges

 $13.20

Sales tax

 $19.83

3rd party payment processing fee

$3.25

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$282.98

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$49.94

Total project goal

$332.92

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $332.92

6 Donors

-$165.72

Donations toward project cost

-$142.11

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$23.61

match offer

-$165.73

Match offer toward project cost

-$140.87

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$24.86

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$1.47

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 Ms. Shoemaker and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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