{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"McKinley Early Childhood Center ","outOfStateSupporters":37.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":124742,"projectId":9453798,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the donations of goldfish crackers to our classroom. Often food is the first motivator for children to use their communication skills. Babies cry when they are hungry and they get their needs met. In our classroom, we use food, particularly goldfish crackers, to get our students to use some sort of communication to request something to eat. In past years, I have had to purchase these snacks with my own money. Schools did not fund these snacks. Being able to have goldfish crackers donated certainly helps me out a lot!!!! Again, your donations were not just to give a simple snack to my students, but allow us to have a way for our children to learn how to communicate using many different modes , when verbal language just is not quite there yet!!!","fullyFundedDate":1755728616016,"projectUrl":"project/one-fish-two-fish-lets-learn-to-ask-f/9453798/","projectTitle":"One Fish, Two Fish, Let’s Learn to Ask for Goldfish!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Meg Basker Housand","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp124742_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1539555494248","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/124742"},{"teacherId":124742,"projectId":9453730,"letterContent":"On behalf of my preschool classroom, I want to sincerely thank you for your generous donation that made it possible for us to purchase small talking devices for our autistic, non-speaking students.\r\n\r\n These devices are already making an incredible difference—giving our children a voice, helping them express their needs, and allowing them to share in daily classroom activities with more confidence and joy. Your support is not only helping them communicate, but also opening doors to greater independence and inclusion.\r\n\r\n We are deeply grateful for your kindness and investment in our students' futures. Thank you for believing in them and in the power of communication.","fullyFundedDate":1754669745767,"projectUrl":"project/voices-for-our-littlest-learners/9453730/","projectTitle":"Voices For Our Littlest Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Meg Basker Housand","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp124742_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1539555494248","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/124742"},{"teacherId":124742,"projectId":8953511,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity towards my project to get engaging writing materials for my preschool autistic students. I have already seen an increase in their interest in using these materials. I have had one child draw all his shapes and another copy the letters of the alphabet. Another student is working on writing his name! I am excited to see how much more writing I can get them to do as the year progresses. \r\n\r\nThank you again for your help! We appreciate it! My main goal is for these students to love learning and have a great first experience in school! Your donations make a difference!","fullyFundedDate":1733227612858,"projectUrl":"project/scribbling-the-future-a-prewriting-adve/8953511/","projectTitle":"Scribbling the Future: A Prewriting Adventure for Autistic Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Meg Basker Housand","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp124742_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1539555494248","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/124742"},{"teacherId":124742,"projectId":8992453,"letterContent":"Bubbles are magical to young children, and especially those with autism. Often the only thing that can calm some of my children down are bubbles! Your donation has allowed me to fill and refill our entire special needs school's bubble stash! \r\n\r\nWe all appreciate your generosity and kindness as you donate to my classroom projects. It allows me to make sure I have things in the classroom that allow my students to have the best first school experience! For that I am extra grateful! \r\n\r\nThank you again for your generous contribution to my class!","fullyFundedDate":1734041938786,"projectUrl":"project/the-magic-of-bubbles/8992453/","projectTitle":"The Magic of Bubbles","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Meg Basker Housand","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp124742_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1539555494248","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/124742"},{"teacherId":124742,"projectId":8925462,"letterContent":"My students love playing at the sensory table. Being 3-5 year olds, they are learning to keep the materials IN the table. Often, a lot of the material gets on the floor. Throughout the year, new children come into our room as they turn 3, and qualify for our special needs classroom. Almost always, the sensory table is the first thing these young children play with.\r\n\r\n I am grateful that we have the materials to meet their sensory needs. Your donation of sand and rice allows us to refill the table when needed! I appreciate your generosity donating to my classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1731610297544,"projectUrl":"project/refill-our-sensory-table/8925462/","projectTitle":"Refill Our Sensory Table","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Meg Basker Housand","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp124742_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1539555494248","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/124742"},{"teacherId":5977725,"projectId":8933360,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding my project. I appreciate your generosity! The children were so excited to see the new equipment and couldn't wait to play ball with the new basketball hoop and ride on the scooter trikes! They ran to the basketball hoop and quickly started playing ball. They were happy that they could reach the basketball hoop which was appropriate for their height. They also were excited to try the 2 scooter trikes. The trikes enable our taller students to use riding toys which they were unable to use in the past because our other riding toys were too small. \r\n\r\nAs a result of your donation, the children are more engaged in the gym. The basketball hoop and 2 scooter trikes are helping to improve their gross motor skills. They also have less frustration and have more positive experiences in the gym, contributing to their overall improved social-emotional learning. We love the basketball hoop and the 2 scooter trikes!","fullyFundedDate":1733336434154,"projectUrl":"project/basketball-hoop-and-scooter-trikes-are/8933360/","projectTitle":"Basketball Hoop and Scooter Trikes are SNAPPY ways to Move!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bandera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5977725_orig.jpg?crop=1532,1532,x1491,y1481&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1731188694051","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5977725"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_19898","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":471,"numTeachers":19,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":21,"percentWhite":15,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":48,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"24.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":62.7,"schoolId":19898,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about McKinley Early Childhood Center on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"McKinley Early Childhood Center ","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/indiana/south-bend-community-school-corporation/mckinley-primary-ctr/19898"}
Join the 287 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
McKinley Early Childhood Center is
an urban public school
in South Bend, Indiana that is part of South Bend Community School Corporation.
It serves 471 students
in grades K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 24.8:1.
Its teachers have had 71 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Boost support for our school's classrooms. Share this page with friends and family who want to make a difference. If you're a teacher, sign up to get started!
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. Each classroom request for funding was created by a classroom teacher and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
71%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
McKinley Early Childhood Center Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Dec 5, 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.
McKinley Early Childhood Center
$33,291
raised using DonorsChoose
71
projects
funded
26
teachers
funded
287
donors
2
projects
for
basic supplies
10
projects for
technology
4
projects for
books
3
projects
for
art supplies
McKinley Early Childhood Center has received support from
180 individuals from Indiana and
107 individuals out-of-state.