Trying to come up with a holiday gift for your child's teacher?
Many Georgia teachers have registered with DonorsChoose.org, "an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need."
Public school teachers can post a project or need on the site, and donors contribute money toward the teachers' goals.
According to the website: "When a project reaches its funding goal, we ship the materials to the school. You'll get photos of the project taking place, a letter from the teacher, and insight into how every dollar was spent. Give over $50 and you'll also receive hand-written thank-yous from the students."
Currently, there are 2,210 projects just in Georgia listed on the site, with 426 of them in Atlanta, 115 in Gwinnett County, 73 in Cobb County and 591 in Fulton County.
Many of the classrooms need iPads and other technology students can't afford.
Teachers are trying to find ways to help their students not just compete with other schools, but also encourage technical thinking and collaboration.
For example, One class at Dunbar Elementary School needs a MacBook Air with speakers.
The project page states: "My students are special as they are exposed to a high crime area, and it is difficult for them to come to school each day. The neighborhood is prone to neglect. Therefore, they tend to reach out to staff for things they lack at home. I love the children in my school as if they are my own. The children here are very smart with great potential. The children here are our future, and I am determined to help them maximize their full potential. ...
The Mac is great for the kids because they can practice on their own, get comfortable and use them with little to no supervision. As they progress, they will be able to do team and independent work to build confidence and to practice socialization skills."
But classroom needs are often more basic than technology.
For one class at Beaver Ridge Elementary School, for example, the need is books for second graders.
The project page states: "Our school is located in Georgia in a diverse, populated area. 91% of our students receive free or reduced lunch."
Projects range in price from a few hundred dollars for basic supplies to a few thousand dollars for computers, and any donation amount is accepted.
So this year, instead of buying another scented candle, you can fund a teacher's project.
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