East Elementary School in Punta Gorda, Florida on DonorsChoose

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Sometimes it's the little things—a custom bookmark, a motivational sticker, or a colorful classroom display—that make a student feel seen, valued, and encouraged.\r\n\r\nMany of my students come into my classroom believing they aren't readers. My goal is to change that. I want them to know they are capable, that their effort matters, and that learning can be enjoyable. Your gift helps me create a classroom where students feel inspired to take risks, celebrate growth, and believe in themselves.\r\n\r\nThe best part is that your generosity won't just impact one class. The Cricut will be used year after year, helping hundreds of students experience a classroom filled with creativity, encouragement, and opportunities to learn.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in public education, in teachers, and most importantly, in my students. Your kindness is making a lasting difference, and I am incredibly grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1666781896325,"projectUrl":"project/engage-with-cricut/6927930/","projectTitle":"Engage With Cricut!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gilliam","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp782404_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1507863652247","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-carolynanderson"},{"teacherId":782404,"projectId":6918474,"letterContent":"From the bottom of my heart, thank you for making my Back to the Basics project a reality. Your generosity means so much to me and, even more importantly, to my students.\r\n\r\nAs a teacher, I know that something as simple as having the right classroom supplies can make a huge difference. When students have what they need, they can focus on learning, building confidence, and celebrating their successes instead of worrying about the basics.\r\n\r\nEvery year, I teach students with a wide range of abilities and backgrounds. Some come to school carrying challenges that no child should have to face. Your kindness helps remove one more obstacle, allowing them to walk into our classroom knowing they have the tools they need to learn and grow. That sense of security and belonging is a gift that goes far beyond school supplies.\r\n\r\nTeaching has been my passion for more than 20 years, and I still believe that every child deserves a classroom where they feel supported, encouraged, and capable of success. Because of you, my students will experience that every single fay!\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my classroom, my students, and the work we do together. Your generosity reminds all of us that there are caring people who are willing to invest in the future of children they may never meet. I cannot thank you enough for helping make our classroom a place where every student has the opportunity to thrive.","fullyFundedDate":1666816859054,"projectUrl":"project/back-to-the-basics/6918474/","projectTitle":"Back to the Basics!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gilliam","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp782404_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1507863652247","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-carolynanderson"},{"teacherId":782404,"projectId":6921458,"letterContent":"Thank you all so much for helping me fund this project! It brought many needed resources to my classroom that added to our learning! We were able to use the watercolors after literacy week! It was so nice to add creativity and our visions of our reading to life on paper! \r\nThe watercolors glided onto the special watercolor paper! I watched my students carefully add details as they were so very careful with our new supplies! We use the scissors almost daily and much nicer having scissors meant for older students! Thank you all again!","fullyFundedDate":1669776465822,"projectUrl":"project/paper-scissors-paint-oh-my/6921458/","projectTitle":"Paper, Scissors & Paint, Oh My!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gilliam","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp782404_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1507863652247","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-carolynanderson"},{"teacherId":782404,"projectId":6679150,"letterContent":"Thank you so very much for supporting this project! Without generous people like you and Donor's Choose, this would not have been possible! Taking pictures of my students is so import! 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About this school

East Elementary School is a suburban public school in Punta Gorda, Florida that is part of Charlotte County Public School District. It serves 742 students in grades Pre-K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 16.9:1. Its teachers have had 41 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Supporting this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades Pre-K - 5

742 Students

44 Teachers

27050 Fairway Dr

Punta Gorda, FL 33982 View local requests

http://www.yourcharlotteschools.net/ees

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at East Elementary School to request what their students need.

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

East Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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.

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East Elementary School Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

18%

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.

East Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Jul 25, 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.