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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Vaha from Manti, UT is requesting educational kits & games through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Vaha is requesting

Santa Letter Project

Help me give my students supplies for annual Santa Letters Project, in which the elementary school students mail letters to Santa and the high school students write back as Santa.

  • $546 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

My Students

My students are amazing and resilient. We live in rural Utah where we have felt extra isolated this past year and a half. Living in a small community is great, except when there is a global pandemic. There is not a lot to do in our area as far as places to socially gather, and so school is the main place to connect.

When in person school was taken away, it really affected all of my students, but especially those who NEEDED connection and physical interaction.

Technology is great, but it can't replace human physical connection. It was during this time that I realized some of my students may not survive this. My students weren't dying from COVID, they were silently suffering from lack of connection, depression, fear, worry, stress, isolation, and loneliness. Coming back to in person learning has been amazing, while still fraught with risk. This year has taught my students and I the importance of human connection.

My Project

To help foster connection and to help students improve their writing skills, we have started the annual Santa Letter Project. Each year, students at the local elementary school write letters to Santa Claus. We set up a mailbox at the elementary for students to mail the letters to Santa. The mailbox I have requested is a sturdier version that will last for years to come. I have requested vinyl to help decorate the mailbox to look like Santa's magical postal service. After students have written their letters to Santa, they are distributed to the high school students who write a reply as if they are Santa. I have requested stationary and envelopes to help foster the magic of the letters. Then we have a local volunteer Santa deliver the letters with a candy cane to all of the students right before winter break.

This project helps students at all levels improve their writing skills, but more importantly perhaps is the lessons that the high school students learn such as empathy, connection with younger students, and how to step outside of themselves.

It is the one assignment every year, that EVERY SINGLE STUDENT turns in.

Mrs. Vaha
Grades 9-12
  • Manti High School
  • Manti, UT
  • 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

    This project will reach 600 students.

    1 donor has given to this project.

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Where Your Donation Goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total
Architectural Mailboxes 6900R Elephantrunk Parcel Drop Box, Red • Amazon Business $255.90 1 $255.90
Santa & Reindeer Over Town Christmas Holiday Letterhead - 80 Sheets • Amazon Business $13.95 6 $83.70
Red #10 Envelopes - 100 Envelopes - Desktop Publishing Supplies™ Brand Envelopes • Amazon Business $14.95 4 $59.80
North Pole Postmark Rubber Stamp Set by DRS Designs • Amazon Business $16.95 1 $16.95
HTVRONT White Permanent Vinyl, White Vinyl for Cricut - 12" x 14 FT White Adhesive Vinyl Roll for Cricut, Silhouette, Cameo Cutters, Signs, Scrapbooking, Craft, Die Cutters (Glossy White) • Amazon Business $10.99 1 $10.99

Materials cost

$427.34

Vendor shipping charges

FREE

Sales tax

$0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$6.41

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$463.75

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$81.84

Total project goal

$545.59

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

$545.59

1 Donor

-$545.59

Donations toward project cost

-$463.75

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$81.84

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

$0.00

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

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Project Activity

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