{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Empower Community School","outOfStateSupporters":15.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10353940,"projectId":9904637,"letterContent":"I want to begin by expressing my deepest gratitude for your generosity in supporting my kindergarten class. Because of your kindness, my students were able to experience a joyful and memorable Christmas celebration that many of them will carry with them for years to come. Your donation allowed me to create a special day for my students without placing additional financial pressure on their families, which means so much in our school community.\r\n\r\nI teach in a Title I school where many families face financial challenges. During the holiday season especially, I try to be mindful that celebrations at school should feel inclusive and joyful for every child, regardless of their circumstances. Your support made that possible. Instead of asking parents to contribute money or supplies, I was able to plan a full classroom celebration where every child had the opportunity to participate, enjoy the activities, and feel special.\r\n\r\nThe resources from this project were used to create a festive classroom party that included snacks, holiday-themed activities, crafts, and small surprises for each student. We decorated together, shared treats, and spent time doing hands-on activities that helped build a sense of community in our classroom. One of the most special moments of the day happened when the students sat together to complete a holiday craft. As they worked, they talked excitedly about their favorite parts of the season and helped each other with their projects. It was wonderful to see their teamwork, creativity, and excitement all in one place.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the materials for the party, their reactions were priceless. Their eyes lit up with excitement and curiosity. Many of them immediately began asking questions about what we would be doing and when we would start the activities. Some of my students were so excited they could hardly sit still! What meant the most to me as their teacher was seeing every child feel included and happy. The joy in the room was truly contagious, and the students were smiling, laughing, and celebrating together all day.\r\n\r\nFor some of my students, this classroom celebration may have been one of the few opportunities they had to participate in a holiday party this season. Because of your generosity, they were able to enjoy a day filled with fun, creativity, and community. Moments like these help build positive memories of school and strengthen the relationships students have with one another and with their classroom environment.\r\n\r\nBeyond just the celebration itself, the activities we completed also supported important classroom skills. The crafts helped students practice fine motor skills, following directions, and expressing creativity. The group activities encouraged sharing, cooperation, and communication with their classmates. Even during a party, my students were learning valuable social and developmental skills that are essential at the kindergarten level.\r\n\r\nOne specific moment that stood out to me happened during our craft activity. One student who is usually very quiet raised his hand and asked if he could help pass out supplies to the class. He carefully made sure everyone had what they needed and smiled proudly when his classmates thanked him. It was such a simple moment, but it showed how meaningful these experiences can be for building confidence and kindness in young learners.\r\n\r\nMy students also loved sitting together to enjoy the snacks and treats that were part of the celebration. They chatted happily with their friends and talked about what they were most excited about during the holiday season. These moments of connection are so important in building a supportive classroom community where students feel comfortable, safe, and valued.\r\n\r\nYour generosity allowed my classroom to feel warm, joyful, and full of excitement. For many of my students, school is a place where they find stability, encouragement, and positive experiences. Being able to provide a celebration like this helps reinforce that school can be a happy and welcoming place.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward in our school year, we are continuing to focus on building strong foundational skills in reading, writing, and math. My students are currently working on recognizing letters and sounds, developing early reading skills, and practicing counting and number recognition. Activities that encourage collaboration and creativity—like the ones we enjoyed during our celebration—continue to play an important role in our daily learning.\r\n\r\nWe are also working on building social-emotional skills such as kindness, sharing, patience, and problem-solving. Experiences like our classroom celebration help strengthen those skills because students learn how to work together, celebrate each other, and show appreciation.\r\n\r\nThe next steps for my students include continuing to grow their love of learning through hands-on activities and engaging lessons. I always strive to create a classroom environment where students feel excited to come to school each day. Your support plays a part in making that possible.\r\n\r\nFrom the bottom of my heart, thank you for investing in my students and helping create such a meaningful experience for them. Your generosity reminded my class that there are people who care deeply about their education and happiness. The joy you brought into our classroom was truly special, and we are incredibly grateful for your kindness.","fullyFundedDate":1764360704565,"projectUrl":"project/a-joyful-christmas-celebration-for-kinde/9904637/","projectTitle":"A Joyful Christmas Celebration for Kindergarten Hearts","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Powell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10353940_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1763539722720","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10353940"},{"teacherId":10405659,"projectId":10027128,"letterContent":"WOW! Thank you so much for funding our project. It has already impacted our school so much and in so many ways Having snacks for the kids has already been helpful when they've needed them. But they have served other purposes too.\r\n\r\nWe have kids who hit their frustration point and need a break. They now know it's OK to come to the office and grab a snack. One of the benefits of having the snacks is the kids tend to open up and talk a little more. \r\n\r\nOnce again, thank you so much for funding our project. A special thank you to the Atlanta Braves most valuable teachers with Xfinity who matched every dollar.You'll never know what a difference these snacks have made.","fullyFundedDate":1768686522186,"projectUrl":"project/help-water-our-food-desert-/10027128/","projectTitle":"Help Water Our Food Desert !","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Prutzman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10405659_orig.png?crop=317,317,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1768418529825","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsprutzman"},{"teacherId":10094134,"projectId":9501407,"letterContent":"his project has had a powerful impact on our students by supporting both healthy habits and creative learning. The technology and materials from this project are used throughout our school day to reinforce hygiene, independence, and fine-motor development. Students are learning that clean hands are an important part of staying healthy while also engaging in hands-on activities that strengthen creativity and focus.\r\n\r\nWhat excites students most is how interactive and accessible the products are. They love being able to independently clean their hands and immediately transition into creative activities that allow them to shape, build, and explore. This smooth connection between routine care and learning makes students feel responsible, capable, and proud of themselves.\r\n\r\nSeveral students have especially warmed to this new technology, including those who benefit from sensory-friendly and hands-on experiences. For some students, the routine of wiping hands and then engaging in creative tasks provides comfort, structure, and confidence. We have seen increased independence, improved engagement, and joyful participation across our classroom.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, our students are developing healthy habits while nurturing their imaginations—creating a classroom environment where clean hands and creative minds truly go hand in hand.\r\n\r\nIf you'd like, I can shorten this, make it more DonorsChoose-specific, or tailor it even more to kindergarten language 🌟","fullyFundedDate":1757423984671,"projectUrl":"project/wipe-shape-inspire-fueling-clean-hand/9501407/","projectTitle":"Wipe, Shape, Inspire: Fueling Clean Hands and Creative Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Williams","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10094134"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_130589","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":40,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":83,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":83,"percentWhite":1,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":12,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":84.6,"schoolId":130589,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Empower Community School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Empower Community School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/alabama/alabama-department-of-education/empower-community-school/130589"}
Join the 13 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Empower Community School is
a suburban public school
in Bessemer, Alabama that is part of Alabama Department of Education.
It serves 40 students
in grades K - 8.
Its teachers have had 7 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Boost support for this school! Share this page with friends, family, alumni, and fellow supporters. Every connection helps teachers get the supplies they need and shows how much your community cares about its students.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for public school teachers.
Every donation funds real needs — pencils, books, lab equipment, art supplies, and more — helping students learn and thrive. We ship supplies directly to the school, and you'll see exactly where each dollar goes.
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
95%
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.
Empower Community School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Mar 19, 2026
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.
Empower Community School
$4,313
raised using DonorsChoose
7
projects
funded
5
teachers
funded
13
donors
1
project
for
basic supplies
2
projects for
technology
Empower Community School has received support from
11 individuals from Alabama and
2 individuals out-of-state.
