It seems no matter what age, people are instinctively drawn to music. For kids at Batchelder Elementary in Hartford, everything from the drum they bang away at to the stereo they listen to music on comes from absolute strangers.
People who have decided to make a donation and help out students who have big needs but whose schools have tiny budgets. The online charity was started up by a Yale graduate is called donorschoose.org. Hartford music teacher Jessie Wills calls the site a blessing.
“It has been a wonderful opportunity for me to find tons of resources for my classroom, instruments, sound equipment, music all sorts of things,” Wills said.
Even puppets. “There’s a frog puppet, there is an owl puppet, there is a dog puppet too,” added 4 year-old student Marissa.
To put in a request for supplies or equipment, three conditions must be met. First off, teachers need to submit an essay stating why the class needs what they are petitioning for. Students also have to write personal thank you notes to the donors.
“Then at the bottom I have to post pictures of my students using the equipment so I posted them singing. So I showed them pictures of the chorus from last year,” added Wills.
Donorschoose has contributed nearly $7,000 worth of equipment for these little musicians. It’s something that has had not only a lasting impression on the students but on the teacher as well.
“It has shown me not to give up and there are so many people out there that are willing to help,” said Wills.
Other teachers are now taking advantage of the same website to fund their project. If you’d like to donate to the site or pledge for a donation yourself click here.
