You're on track to get doubled donations (and unlock a reward for the colleague who referred you). Keep up the great work!
Take credit for your charitable giving! Check out your tax receipts
Donate
To use your $50 gift card credits, find a project to fund and we'll automatically apply your credits at checkout. Find a classroom project
Skip to main content

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

See this teacher's page

This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Mertan from Van Nuys, CA is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Mertan is requesting

Back to School Supplies for a Fresh Start

My students need materials to learn essential organizational skills before they head to middle school. Thirty-six 3-ring binders, 36 pencil pouches, pocket folders, and 12 hole punchers will assist!

  • $561 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mrs. Mertan for her next project!

Help Mrs. Mertan

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mrs. Mertan for her next project!

My Students

“The only difference between a mob and a trained army is organization” –Calvin Coolidge. Though this quote is about a coordination of human efforts, it also relates to a student’s ability to succeed in a familiar, organized environment.

My 5th grade students are hard-working children from low-income backgrounds.

Many of them have never traveled further than their local supermarket (though we live in a large urban city), but they are motivated by the world "beyond." They are eager learners and – when inspired –are interested in their future success. My students are still beginning to understand that they are part of a larger community and ecosystem and look for ways – through problem solving, design, and their own interests – to create a better world for themselves.

My Project

Students will be welcomed to 5th grade with a new set of school supplies! Not only will this ease the burden of their parents who will no longer have to buy new materials, but it will also serve the students’ organizational needs all year long. Each student will receive a binder, pencil pouch (filled with creating tools), a 3-hole punch, and pocket folders. I will help students understand the importance of keeping organized and work with each student to find a method of organization that works for them. They will use these binders for important work, communications, and planning their projects/studies. This training will help students become more independent learners and will help them get ready for middle school – a new and exciting challenge!

My students are ready for success and I want to help motivate and inspire them to maximize their potential.

These school supplies will help students become more organized to help foster a more seamless learning environment. In addition, students will feel inspired, encouraged, by the generosity of their larger community and will be more motivated to work on behalf of themselves and others.

Mrs. Mertan Stagg Street Elementary School Grades 3-5

Equity Focus

At this school, more than 50% of students are Black, Latino, and/or Native American, and more than 50% come from low-income households. Learn how your donation to this school supports a more equitable education.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More about Mrs. Mertan

Van Nuys, CA View local requests

More than half of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

34 students impacted 11donors

Boost your odds

Add a profile photo in addition to your classroom photo. If you add a photo, it'll show up right here on your project page.

You are more likely to receive funding if you put a face to your name.

Upload a photo

Top rated for efficiency and transparency.

You donate directly to the teacher or project you care about and see where every dollar you give goes.

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

See our finances

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Wilson Jones Round Ring View Binder, 1.5 Inch, Basic, 362 Series, Customizable, Black, 4 Pack (W70362-34BPP) • Amazon $11.99 9 $107.91
Swingline Notebook Hole Punch 74042 • Amazon $6.98 12 $83.76
OMURA Bright Color 3 - Ring Pencil Pouch w/ Mesh Window, 6 PCS • Amazon $10.87 6 $65.22
Dixon Ticonderoga Wood-Cased #2 HB Pencils, Box of 96, Yellow (13882) • Amazon $12.99 3 $38.97
Art Alternatives Pastel 12-Color Set • Amazon $6.87 5 $34.35
Royal Brush Soft Pastels, 24-Pack, Multicolor • Amazon $6.39 5 $31.95
Avery Two-Pocket Folders Dark Blue, Pack of 25 (47975) • Amazon $8.31 3 $24.93
Elmer's Washable All-Purpose School Glue Sticks, 0.24 Ounce Each, 60-Pack (E501) • Amazon $15.99 1 $15.99

Materials cost

$403.08

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $36.88

3rd party payment processing fee

$6.05

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$476.01

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$84.00

Total project goal

$560.01

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $560.01

8 Donors

-$292.60

Donations toward project cost

-$252.46

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$40.14

match offer

-$263.00

Match offer toward project cost

-$223.55

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$39.45

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$4.41

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

View complete list Show less

Give the most requested basic supplies

See teacher requests

Give back to your community

Find opportunities to impact local needs by exploring a map of classroom projects near you.

See local area

Project Activity

Project Activity
Back to top

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 Mrs. Mertan and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":true,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"CA","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":2,"name":"Elementary School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/back-to-school-supplies-for-a-fresh-star/1599419/","mayHaveReplacements":true,"numStudents":34,"teacherScreenName":"Mrs. Mertan","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"1184880668","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"photosPublished":true,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"schoolCity":"Van Nuys","teachersOnPage":[1931587],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":false,"proposalId":1599419,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"authorIds":{"1931587":{"owner":"Mrs. Mertan","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[1599419],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1931587_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y302&width=136&height=136&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723432634261","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":21,"teacherChallengeId":313151,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":["MjIzNDQ5OA==","Mjk4NjY3NA==","MzgzODA=","Mjk4NjI0Mw==","MjMyNDA2MA==","MTkzMTU4Nw==","Mjk4NzAyMA==","Mjk2Nzg4Mg==","MTY4MDkyMg=="],"teacherId":1931587,"schoolCounty":"Los Angeles","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"CA","name":"California"}}