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This teacher needs your help!

Mr. Shaffer from Brooklyn, NY is requesting lab equipment through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mr. Shaffer is requesting

Mental Health Classroom Garden

Help me give my students a mental health classroom garden. Brighten up our basement classroom growing shelves with flowers, herbs, and vegetables, cared for by our students. Supplies include pots, soil components, tools, seeds, and more.

  • $590 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mr. Shaffer for his next project!

Help Mr. Shaffer

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mr. Shaffer for his next project!

My Project

These supplies will go towards turning our two bare indoor growing shelves into a bright classroom garden bursting with flowers, vegetables, and herbs. Students will learn how to care for these plants, and will be able to take home seedlings to grow at home as well. Our classroom is in a windowless basement, but we are fortunate to already have two tall growing shelves with grow lights installed, so we just need pots, soil components, seeds, and tools to get started.

Students' mental health has been shown to benefit from exposure to greenery, especially in indoor settings like classrooms.

These supplies will allow our classroom to be full of thriving plants, and will give students the benefit a green environment. On top of that, they will learn how to care for the plants, and this plant care will provide beneficial mental breaks from the stresses of their school day.

Our students are especially suited to benefit from this project, as they are at an all-girls science and math specialty school in the inner city. This means that they will be integrating what they are already learning in their science classes about plant structure, reproduction, and care into their work with the plants. In addition, many students live in apartments with limited outdoor space, and have little experience gardening. By bringing this greenery into the classroom, our students will get to experience the mental health boost that gardening supplies, which many other students with home gardens take for granted.

Mr. Shaffer Urban Assembly Institute - M&S for Young Women Grades 9-12

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

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 Mr. Shaffer

Brooklyn, NY View local requests

More than three‑quarters 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

60 students impacted 4donors

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

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
60 Packs 3.15 Inch Peat Pots for Seedlings, Biodegradable Seeds Starter Nursery Pots, Holes Round Seed Starter Pots for Plant Vegetables or Gardening Supplies with Bonus 10 Pcs Plant Labels. • Amazon Business $12.98 4 $51.92
The HC Companies 24 Inch Venetian Rectangular Window Planter Box - Lightweight Plastic Indoor Outdoor Plant Pot with Drainage for Windowsill, Herbs, Flowers, Sandstone • Amazon Business $20.21 2 $40.42
Irenare 24 Pairs Gardening Gloves for Women and Ladies Breathable Rubber Coated Gloves Bulk, Protective Gloves with Grip • Amazon Business $30.99 1 $30.99
Gardening Tools Set of 10 - Complete Heavy Duty Garden Tools Set with Fashion Handbag - Durable Gardening Supplies Kit Ideal Gardening Gifts for Women • Amazon Business $29.99 1 $29.99
Gardeners Basics, Survival Vegetable Seeds Garden Kit Over 16,000 Seeds Non-GMO and Heirloom, Great for Emergency Bugout Survival Gear 35 Varieties Seeds for Planting Vegetables 35 Plant Markers • Amazon Business $29.75 1 $29.75
Vermiculite Bliss (24 Qts) - Organic Vermiculite for Plants & Gardening - Coarse Vermiculite Mixes with Potting Soil for Outdoor & Indoor Plants - Fine Vermiculite for Perlite, Orchids, & Coco Coir • Amazon Business $26.99 1 $26.99
Iris Stack & Pull 54 Qt. Latch Lid Storage Bin, Clear (100243) • Quill.com $25.89 1 $25.89
Worm Bliss - Organic Worm Castings for Plants - All Natural Earthworm Castings for Plants, Flowers, & Veggies - OMRI-Listed Plant Fertilizer with 60+ Minerals - Soil Amendment for Plants (8 Qts) • Amazon Business $23.39 1 $23.39
33 Pack 4 Inches Plastic Flower Plant Pots Thickened Seedlings Nursery Pots with Tray Assorted Small Flower Pots Colorful Plastic Planters with Saucers Gardening Plant Containers for Outdoor Indoor • Amazon Business $18.99 1 $18.99
Juvale 8 Pack Plastic Plant Drip Trays for Planters, Pots, Rectangular Saucer Pans for Indoors, Outdoors (Terracotta Red, 6.5x12 in) • Amazon Business $18.04 1 $18.04
Plant Labels Tags 200Pcs T-Type Plant Markers Plastic Plant Label Garden Labels Tags Plant Labels for Outdoor Garden Waterproof Plant Label Identification Stakes with Permanent Marking Pen 5 Colors • Amazon Business $8.99 2 $17.98
Artist's White Poly/Cotton Apron - 26" x 26" • Blick Art Materials $8.55 2 $17.10
BN-LINK 24 Hour Plug-in Mechanical Timer Grounded for Aquarium, Grow Light, Hydroponics, Indoor Lighting, Home Appliances, ETL Listed 125VAC, 60 Hz, 1875W, 15A, 1/2HP (2 Pack) • Amazon Business $16.59 1 $16.59
Miracle-Gro Pour & Feed Plant Food, Fertilizer Instantly Feeds Live Plants, For Outdoor & Indoor Plants in Containers, 32 oz. • Amazon Business $8.19 2 $16.38
Organo Republic 15 Medicinal & Tea Herb Seeds Variety Pack 6,420+ Non-GMO Heirloom Garden Seeds for Indoor & Outdoors, Including Anise, Borage, Cilantro, Chamomile, Dandelion, Rosemary Seeds • Amazon Business $16.23 1 $16.23
Saukore Funny Garden Aprons for Women, Cute Gardening Gifts for Gardeners, Waterproof Kitchen Apron for Cooking Baking - Birthday Housewarming Gifts for Florist Wife Mom Sister Grandma Neighbor • Amazon Business $15.99 1 $15.99
Stretch Polyethylene Gloves Medium Box of 200 • Carolina Biological Supply Company $14.26 1 $14.26
25 Flower Seed Packets Including 10+ Varieties - May Include: Forget Me Nots, Pinks, Marigolds, Zinnia, Wildflower, Poppy, Snapdragon and More - Made in The USA • Amazon Business $12.99 1 $12.99
Burpee Organic Coconut Coir Concentrated Seed Starting Mix, 16 Quart • Amazon Business $10.68 1 $10.68
Watering Can for Indoor Plants, Garden Watering Cans for Outdoor Plant House Flower, Modern Plant Watering Can Large Long Spout with Sprinkler Head 1 Gallon • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99

Materials cost

$444.56

Vendor shipping charges

 $19.90

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$6.67

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$501.13

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$88.43

Total project goal

$589.56

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $589.56

2 Donors

-$544.77

Donations toward project cost

-$463.06

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$81.71

match offer

-$44.79

Match offer toward project cost

-$38.07

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$6.72

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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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 Mr. Shaffer and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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