Birch Grove Elementary Turns to Crowdfunding Site for Supplies

Students at Birch Grove Elementary School for the Arts in Brooklyn Park not only have a passion for art, but academics too. In order to keep those creative juices flowing, teachers say they need additional supplies that aren’t always covered by the district.

When 4th grade teacher, Becky Mallory wanted a special rug for her classroom, she turned to a crowdfunding site called “Donors Choose.” 

“We have a common area where the students can come sit on the rug and it’s really helpful to have them, right next up to the board so they can really focus their attention,” explained Mallory.

Besides bringing more ambiance to the room, the rug also assists students in learning. The large, bright rug, is made in the shape of a map of the United States.

“It’s comfortable and it has all the states on it,” said student Taleah Powers.

Birch Grove has a large number of students on free or reduced lunch. However, the school doesn’t meet the requirements to get extra money through the Title I program.

“We have all the needs and we’d love to have the resources,” said Media Specialist Lanica Klein.  She is  spearheading the crowdfunding efforts at the school this year.  “I had books that were approximately 20 years old.”

Klein recently successfully funded a book project. She says the cost of the 52 books was approximately $2,000, which is more than the book budget for the year.

The educators say they are grateful to the donors who help make their classrooms a better place to learn.

Smiling, Klein said, “It’s amazing to me that people from all over the place will fund something they understand is something kids need to learn.”

Klein has two new projects on the site: one will buy more hardcover books about diversity. While the other will buy bee robots, so students can learn to code.

If you would like to donate, click on the following link: https://secure.donorschoose.org/teacher/teacher.html?projects=true https://www.donorschoose.org/we-teach/5782462?projects=true

Brooklyn Park