Woodside Kindergarteners Get New Classroom Library Thanks to Charity Website

One of the most important things that can be offered to young students is access to a library, and thanks to Woodside Elementary teacher, Melina Cronin, who turned to the charity website DonorsChoose.org, her kindergarten class now has their very own collection of new books right within the walls of their classroom.

Through the non-profit organization’s website, public school teachers can post classroom project requests and supporters can choose to donate any amount to the project that most inspires them.  Cronin’s project, entitled, "Creating a Classroom Library-Growing Readers" requested a $500 allowance to put towards the kindergarten’s library collection. The project was funded by five donors, in only five days.

“Any donations received in the first week are matched by the organization,” Cronin said. “That helped fund the project very quickly.”

DonorsChoose.org caters to funding projects in K-12 public schools across the country, including public charter schools. The organization was started in 2000 after Charles Best, a social studies teacher from the Bronx, sought a way to raise money with his colleagues in order to purchase materials and supplies for experiences they wanted their students to have.

As part of the organizations requirements, after a project has been funded the teacher must submit photos of the project in action and is also asked to provide a hand-written letter to all of the projects donors. Those donors who contribute more than $50 to the cause receive hand-written thank you letters from the children as well.

“Our students have already made some lovely thank you cards,” Cronin said. “They are all very excited to have the new books and appreciate the donations that helped us get them.”

Cronin’s library project was her first through DonorsChoose.org, but she says she is planning on starting a new project in the near future. This time, she would like to focus on bringing new technology into her classroom.

“This was a great project and a great experience,” Cronin said. “I think I was most touched by people’s investments in my student’s success in literacy. I would definitely recommend other teachers look into the site for their classroom needs.”