{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Donald C Parker Early Education Center","outOfStateSupporters":30.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":994478,"projectId":9229345,"letterContent":"There is not much that an educator enjoys more than seeing a book in the hands of child! We use the books you helped purchase to assess a child's expressive and receptive language skills by asking them to point to named animals, objects, or colors or to tell us the names of objects. \r\nOther books help the children calm down when they see familiar characters from TV shows or movies they love, familiar and favorite animals and brightly colored objects and pictures.\r\nThese books have helped children about to turn three and those up to the age of almost 6 feel safe, feel calm, and feel joy. Thank you for giving them that!","fullyFundedDate":1746530751139,"projectUrl":"project/board-books-for-prek/9229345/","projectTitle":"Board Books for PreK","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Svetich","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp994478_orig.jpg?crop=2448,2448,x0,y408&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1637179920650","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/994478"},{"teacherId":994478,"projectId":9162746,"letterContent":"The tools you helped purchase have allowed the students to calm their bodies during times of separation from their parents. For some, this is the FIRST time they are separating from Mom or Dad. \r\n\r\nMany of the children have been receiving Early Intervention therapy services due to identified delays. The therapies they have been receiving are home based and the goals are family driven. Mom or Dad have been with them every step of the way. The government funding that pays for these services ends at the age of 3. Any services that the child may continue to need will then be provided for through the local public school district. \r\n\r\nHaving age appropriate, enticing and developmentally appropriate sensory tools and toys helps the child self regulation and feel safe in their new school environment, allowing them to show us their true selves.","fullyFundedDate":1743691419367,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-soothes-the-brain/9162746/","projectTitle":"Sensory Soothes the Brain","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Svetich","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp994478_orig.jpg?crop=2448,2448,x0,y408&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1637179920650","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/994478"},{"teacherId":994478,"projectId":9054359,"letterContent":"The addition of these items has made waiting an easier task for the young children who come into our building. As parents and their child need to wait, the child is able to engage meaningfully with the tools you provided us with. Having the child engaged puts the parents at ease which gives them the ability to hear and process what we are saying, and comfortable asking questions regarding what was heard.\r\n\r\nWith the funding in public education shrinking daily, Donors Choose provides teachers and students with tools they would otherwise go with","fullyFundedDate":1736999073611,"projectUrl":"project/lets-go-on-a-sensory-hunt/9054359/","projectTitle":"Lets Go on a Sensory Hunt!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Svetich","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp994478_orig.jpg?crop=2448,2448,x0,y408&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1637179920650","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/994478"},{"teacherId":8345613,"projectId":9085575,"letterContent":"The Tonies and books we have received have been a huge hit. I have used them to create a listening center during our ELA time. Student are able to choose a Tonie and the accompanying book, and listen to the story with headphones. I have splitters, so two students can listen to the story together. I am very proud of how well the students have been utilizing the listening center and happy to see how excited they are to go to the center. \r\n\r\nAs soon as the Tonies and books began to arrive, the students were asking about them. We have a class meeting where I explained what they were and how they were going to be used in our classroom. The students' faces lit up as they learned about how they can listen to a book being read to them and follow along in the book. They have been great with being respectful with the items, and they are always engaged in the stories.\r\n\r\nI am so happy to have been able to provide this center to my students and we are so grateful to have received the items! Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1739374258351,"projectUrl":"project/independent-reading-with-tonies/9085575/","projectTitle":"Independent Reading With TONIES!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jury","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8345613"},{"teacherId":2824142,"projectId":8990023,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generosity in supporting this project! This book browsing shelf is the single most expensive item I have ever attempted to purchase with a Donors Choose project. As I was putting the project together, I was a little intimidated by the great cost and wondered if perhaps it would be better to try to purchase this item a different way. But, terrific donors like yourself came through and the shelf is in its new home in the Parker Center library.\r\nBecause all kindergarten students in the district attend Parker Center, our library must meet the needs of many. We have students whose sensory needs demand that they have library books with more interaction such as lift the flap, turning knobs, touch and feel pages, and more. We have students with limited or no vision who are learning to use Braille; these students need books written in Braille and non-Braille text so their family can read along. And all of our students benefit from being able to see the cover of their library book as they browse. Our new browsing book shelf satisfies all these needs. It is a great addition to our library.\r\nAgain, thank you for your generosity and support of the Parker Center library. Our browsing book shelf will help students for years to come, thanks to you!","fullyFundedDate":1733939057266,"projectUrl":"project/take-a-look-browse-some-books/8990023/","projectTitle":"Take a Look! Browse Some Books!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hembrough","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2824142_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1479737005277","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/meghan-hembrough"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_26111","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":562,"numTeachers":38,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":7,"percentWhite":62,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":20,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - K","studentTeacherRatio":"14.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":69.4,"schoolId":26111,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Donald C Parker Early Education Center on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Donald C Parker Early Education Center","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/harlem-unit-school-district-122/donald-c-parker-early-education-ctr/26111"}

Donald C Parker Early Education Center

Join the 160 supporters who believe in this school.

About this school

Donald C Parker Early Education Center is a suburban public school in MacHesney Pk., Illinois that is part of Harlem Unit School District 122. It serves 562 students in grades Pre-K - K with a student/teacher ratio of 14.8:1. Its teachers have had 49 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades Pre-K - K

562 Students

38 Teachers

808 Harlem Rd

MacHesney Pk., IL 61115 View local requests

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Donald C Parker Early Education Center Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Donald C Parker Early Education Center Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

27%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Donald C Parker Early Education Center Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 4, 2025

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.

Donald C Parker Early Education Center

$22,487

raised using DonorsChoose

projects funded

teachers funded

160

donors

projects for basic supplies

project for technology

projects for books

projects for art supplies

Donald C Parker Early Education Center has received support from 111 individuals from Illinois and 49 individuals out-of-state.

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

Donald C Parker Early Education Center

About this school

Equity Focus School

Donald C Parker Early Education Center Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Donald C Parker Early Education Center Demographics

Donald C Parker Early Education Center Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 4, 2025

Donald C Parker Early Education Center

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