Published by Linda on 17 Oct 2008 at 03:24 pm
The Joy Continues
If you haven’t seen them yet, be sure to check out the thank-you notes in the comments that were sent to donors to the listening center and folding tables projects. Real teachers who are really grateful and write real notes to tell you how much this is going to mean to their very real students. Well done, all.
And now: Broken Pencils. If you look at the cost report, you will see more specifics about what the project actually entails for Ms. W’s classroom: Crayons. Markers. And yes, pencils. If it surprises you that a teacher has to hit up the public to buy pencils, note the comment about the listening center, where the teacher said that she had to fill out a requisition form to get pencils and paper from the locked supply closet. Ms. W has also included a writing storage unit, but if you’re concerned that might be extravagant, take a look at what it is — basically a shelving unit that allows students to access writing materials easily. It’s a bookshelf and some cubbies for writing, and little kids need cubbies so they can find their stuff.
Ms. W’s little kids need pencils. Sarah’s drive needs to hit $75K as soon as possible to be in line for a $10K match. We are getting there; Sarah is getting there; Ms. W’s kids need to get there, too.
PEN-CILS! PEN-CILS! PEN-CILS!
UPDATE: Only $83 to crayons. C’mon.
stillshimpy on 17 Oct 2008 at 5:43 pm #
I’d picked that one out the other day, but just donated again. It’s a great cause, and not too terribly far from completion! There’s something very heart wrenching about the thought of kids not even having enough pencils in schools. I’ll just be over here being very grateful for absolutely everything in my life. Wow, it’s humbling, the stuff I just take for granted. I assume you’ll be continuing the nudging over the weekend, so I kept some aside in case there’s another one going for then.
Marianne on 17 Oct 2008 at 8:34 pm #
Linda, you’re good. I just donated to “Not at the Kitchen Table,” which asked for cushions and beanbag chairs for reading. I love thinking of kids curled up with books. When you’re done with the pencils, how about highlighting this one?
Eleanor on 17 Oct 2008 at 9:13 pm #
Alright dammit. I’ll do it!
Linda on 17 Oct 2008 at 9:17 pm #
Seems fair, Marianne. We’ll do the beanbags after the pencils!
Amy on 17 Oct 2008 at 9:22 pm #
I’m glad I could help if only a little. Keep up the good work
Tim on 18 Oct 2008 at 1:28 am #
It’s clear that you’re doing some good with raising awareness for some pretty valid causes, Miss Ali. But, if there is nothing to read except “guilt trips about donating” articles on your page, people will stop coming, and then no one will ever get their worthy things funded because no one comes here anymore. So, any chance you could write something in your caustically witty way about stuff other than donations?
Linda on 18 Oct 2008 at 9:38 am #
Thanks for your concern.
If the question is whether discussing donations is permanent, the answer is “no.” If the question is whether discussing donations is over, the answer is “probably not.” If the question is when I am likely to post about something else, the answer is “when the mood strikes.” If the question is whether I am concerned that speaking for four days about something other than myself will cause people to never visit the site again, the answer is “I am actually not concerned about that, no.” I think most people agree with your description of education as a “pretty valid” cause, and therefore, I think they understand.
Incidentally, I don’t really go by Ye Olde TWoP Handle so much anymore, but if you’re going to use it, please spell it with two Ls.
Cheers!
Barb on 18 Oct 2008 at 12:41 pm #
The contest is over in less than two weeks. It’s one month to be thinking of how a small donation can make a huge impact.
Anlyn on 19 Oct 2008 at 9:37 am #
Linda, thank you for highlighting this one so more people would see it. And in just two days! You people rock.
Bunting on 19 Oct 2008 at 10:57 am #
And Linda is actually doing Tomato Nation a solid with these posts (not to mention the kids), so please feel free to direct any complaints to me.
Or to your local representative, whose budget priorities have made private-sector fund-raising for public schools a necessity.
Karen on 20 Oct 2008 at 10:34 am #
Since pencils were taken care of, I donated to the beanbags. Thanks for posting this, Linda. It’s been fun to scroll through the different projects.
daki on 20 Oct 2008 at 11:40 am #
aw, now I want Linda to not post anything other than about DonorsChoose for a few days, just in spite. I am *so mean* (but I am also a huge fan of the TN drive, and of DC, and of teachers, and of students, and of pencils and bean bag chairs.)
Linda, for the record, I’m loving coming to your site daily for the DC updates, and am glad you’ve got this forum to help highlight what Sars is doing so incredibly, again, this year.