{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Thomas Hart Benton Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":73.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7970164,"projectId":9084938,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous donations, our preschool classroom received a wonderful supply of snacks to fuel our students' learning each day. Your support made a real difference in helping our young learners stay energized, focused, and ready to explore the world around them.\r\n\r\nBefore this project, many of our students came to school without enough to eat, and snack time was sometimes a challenge. Now, with snacks available daily, every child can participate fully in classroom activities without distraction or hunger.\r\n\r\nThese snacks have also turned into meaningful moments for building community, children gather to share, practice manners, and learn about making healthy choices. The smiles on their faces during snack time remind us that small gestures of kindness can have a lasting impact.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, our students feel cared for and supported.","fullyFundedDate":1746785848015,"projectUrl":"project/successful-snack-time/9084938/","projectTitle":"Successful Snack Time","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Curtis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7970164_orig.jpg?crop=433,433,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1630111928465","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7970164"},{"teacherId":7859002,"projectId":9396192,"letterContent":"When our new Play-Doh, moon sand, and dot markers arrived, the students could hardly wait to explore them. During center time, we set up tables with each material, and the children rotated through to create, build, and experiment. One of the most memorable projects was when the class used Play-Doh to sculpt animals from a story we had just read. They were so proud to show off their tiny lions, elephants, and birds, and it was a wonderful way to connect literacy with hands-on creativity. The moon sand has also become a favorite—students love using it to mold shapes and practice fine motor skills while engaging in imaginative play.\r\n\r\nTheir initial reactions were full of pure joy—several children clapped when they spotted the bright dot markers, while others dove straight into squishing the Play-Doh between their fingers with big grins. A few even shouted, \"This is so much fun!\" The excitement was contagious, and it quickly turned into a collaborative experience, with children sharing tools, trading colors, and helping each other with new ideas.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, we will use these materials for a unit on community helpers. The children will use dot markers to create uniforms for different helpers, Play-Doh to build tools and vehicles, and moon sand to construct small \"job sites\" like a bakery or construction area. These projects will not only strengthen their creativity and fine motor skills but also deepen their understanding of the people who help our community each day. The donated supplies are making our lessons more engaging, hands-on, and meaningful for every student!","fullyFundedDate":1750773723301,"projectUrl":"project/pre-k-art-materials/9396192/","projectTitle":"Pre-K Art Materials","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hayes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7859002_orig.png?crop=1592,1592,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1732082115166","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7859002"},{"teacherId":3577349,"projectId":9376760,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations! These headphones have helped my students focus on online programs. We have online programs for math, reading, and for new English learners. \r\n\r\n Students love how comfortable these are. They fit well and do not hurt their ears like some of the hard plastic headphones do. \r\n\r\nI always appreciate the generosity shown to my class and students. It truly takes a village to prepare young children to have their brightest futures. \r\n\r\nThank you so much again for your kindness!","fullyFundedDate":1748214215278,"projectUrl":"project/comfy-headphones/9376760/","projectTitle":"Comfy Headphones","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3577349_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1472089194772","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/cathy-lee"},{"teacherId":2503309,"projectId":6709418,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping support my classroom. My students have a fantastically safe and comfortable environment to come into each day because of your generous donations! I appreciate everything you did to help me acheive my vision for my classroom. The first time the kids came in and saw the new furniture that screamed with excitment. We have a schedule so everybody gets to use all the chairs every week. They look forward to their turn to read from those child size chairs each week. 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Join the 1,580 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Thomas Hart Benton Elementary School is
a suburban public school
in Independence, Missouri that is part of Independence School District 30.
It serves 384 students
in grades Pre-K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 12.8:1.
Its teachers have had 377 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Share and help support Thomas Hart Benton Elementary School
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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
41%
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.
Thomas Hart Benton Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Feb 15, 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.
Thomas Hart Benton Elementary School
$164,182
raised using DonorsChoose
377
projects
funded
45
teachers
funded
1,580
donors
16
projects
for
basic supplies
11
projects for
technology
25
projects for
books
2
projects
for
art supplies
Thomas Hart Benton Elementary School has received support from
423 individuals from Missouri and
1,157 individuals out-of-state.
