This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
Kids in a low-resource schools can help others, too! As a science teacher (NYC Teaching Fellow Alumni), I was so excited when my principal approached me to teach a Community Service elective class. I had already been knitting after school with a group of girls for 2 years...we had created and sold items as a fundraiser for the school--but we had not yet used our skills to benefit our neighborhood community...
So, for the past 5 months, we've been knitting and crocheting items for women survivors of domestic violence. We've created shawls, bags, accessories, hats, scarves, phone cases and we gave our first set of donations out on Mother's Day (we are partnering with a non-profit organization called "Sue Rock's Originals" who works with a specific domestic violence shelter.) When we delivered our items--we learned that most needed were bags. Women are leaving their homes, with all that they can carry--often in plastic shopping bags--and we can help them by supplying beautiful bags to show them we are proud of the choices they are making. We support and care for them.
Now, if you're a knitter...you know how long it takes to knit a bag! And, it can go quickly if you knit with large needles...but then there are holes in the bag, your pencils fall out! So, we've decided that we want to line our quick knit bags with fabric, so that the belongings of the women are secure. We need a sewing machine to help speed up the process (and teach my students a new skill!) and get more items to the domestic violence survivors.
Now...I know you are saying, "a sewing machine won't help her students prepare for college." But it will, and I'll give you four reasons:
1) community service allows the students to be more competitive on their college application.
2) helping others and getting involved in the community allows students to practice their social, leadership and commitment skills (all essential to succeeding in college).
3) personally, I hope that my students will increase their desire to go to college by interacting with others who either did or did not make that choice. The reality is that the community I work in has few college attendants--and even fewer graduates. I need to help my students prepare to FINISH college, not just start.
4) people who volunteer are happier than others (too many studies to count!)--and a happy student will be more likely to COME to school. First they come and finish High School...then college.
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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. W. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.