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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Rusin from Saint Louis, MO is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Rusin is requesting

Who Says Boys Can't Knit?

My students need hooks for their knitting looms, crochet needles, and yarn for multiple projects.

  • $391 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

My Students

People are constantly amazed when they walk into my room and see nearly 30 eleven-year-old boys sitting in groups on the floor knitting and crocheting. They beg me every day to let them get their looms and needles out and get so excited when they finish a project.

My boys come from extremely varied backgrounds.

I have students who are refugees of war, children of immigrants, and students whose families have been here for generations. One thing they have in common is poverty. School and learning brings them together and we all teach each other every day. They are typical boys, full of energy and a hunger for new knowledge. They shun all things "girly" and hold on tightly to the idea of being a man. My goal is to turn their idea of what being a man is upside down by the end of the year. Broadening their horizons is not only fulfilling for me, but it also allows the boys a safe place to investigate things that are taboo in other areas of their lives.

My Project

As part of a community project, I began knitting in my classroom two years ago. The program provided round knitting looms, hooks, and yarn for each student. The yarn is gone and the hooks are slowly breaking and disappearing. However, every year I teach my boys how to knit with whatever supplies I can get my hands on. This year a friend was able to donate long looms and we began making scarves to go with our multitude of hats. My boys spend hours each week knitting hats and scarves to give to a local homeless shelter for the cold months. This year I added crocheting to the mix. Not only do the boys get the enjoyment of creating something, but they also love knowing that someone is going to wear their finished product. The wonderful lessons learned while working are priceless: patience, perseverance, community, math skills, and appreciation for a new art.

I can't imagine starting a new year without supplies for this project.

The fourth graders are already excited because they will learn how to knit next year in fifth grade! The badly needed supplies are not in our school budget, and I can no longer pay for these items out of pocket. I need help making sure that my boys continue to learn a life skill that encourages growth in so many areas. I need help making sure the local homeless shelter continues to get needed hats and scarves.

Ms. Rusin
Grades 3-5

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Ms. Rusin is requesting.

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

You can start a project with the same resources being requested here!

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
YARN DOUBLEWEIGHT 16 CONE ASSORTMENT • School Specialty $61.74 2 $123.48
10 Multi-color 3-inch Mini Hooks for Your Rainbow Loom • Amazon $6.59 3 $19.77
Plastic Crochet Hook Assortment - Set of 6 • Nasco $2.23 8 $17.84
CARON NATURA ONE PD/AZURE BLU 1LB 4OZ • Blick Art Materials $7.64 2 $15.28
CARON NATURA ONE PD/BLK 1LB • Blick Art Materials $7.64 2 $15.28
CARON NATURA ONE PD/FOREST GRN 1LB 4PLY • Blick Art Materials $7.64 2 $15.28
CARON NATURA ONE PD/KELLY GRN 1LB 4PLY • Blick Art Materials $7.64 2 $15.28
CARON NATURA ONE PD/OFF WHT 1LB 4PLY • Blick Art Materials $7.64 2 $15.28
CARON NATURA ONE PD/ROSE 1LB 4PLY • Blick Art Materials $7.64 2 $15.28
CARON NATURA ONE PD/WHT 1LB 4PLY • Blick Art Materials $7.64 2 $15.28
CARON NATURA ONE PD/SCRLT 1LB 4PLY • Blick Art Materials $7.64 2 $15.28

Materials cost

$283.33

Vendor shipping charges

 $14.13

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$4.25

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$331.71

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$58.54

Total project goal

$390.25

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $390.25

12 Donors

-$372.40

Donations toward project cost

-$331.71

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$40.69

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$17.85

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Rusin and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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