This week, we’re helping a California fifth grade needing soil for the raised garden beds they’ve built, and a North Carolina Middle School needing hands-on engineering supplies including “Snap Circuits”. We hope that readers who support quality public school education will help by sharing or supporting our featured projects.
The Inoculation Project is an ongoing, volunteer effort to crowdfund science, math, and literacy projects for public schools in low-income neighborhoods. As always, our conduit is DonorsChoose, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that facilitates tax-deductible donations to specific, vetted projects in public schools.
It’s the time of year for me to remind you that, if you happen to want to add some charitable donations to Donors Choose in this 2025 tax year, but you don’t have time right now to race around the Donors Choose site picking out projects, you can purchase account credits now in any amount, and then apply them to projects at your own pace in the coming year. More info and help at the link.
Today we have a new project #1!
Mr. Kozimor teaches fifth grade in Fresno, California. His previous project allowed his students to build raised garden beds on behalf of the whole school, and now this additional project will supply some soil for the beds.
PROJECT #1
Project: Soil to Grow: Helping Our School Garden Come to Life!
Resources: Help me give my students outdoor potting mix bags for our raised garden beds
Economic need: An Equity Focus School; nearly all students from low‑income households.
Location: Lane Elementary School, Fresno, California
Total: $171.04
Still Needed: $171.04 $146.04
Project description by Mr. Kozimor: Now that our raised garden beds have been funded, my 5th grade students are eager to begin planting—but we need high-quality potting soil to make our school garden thrive. The soil we are requesting will allow students to fill our new beds, prepare planting stations, and begin growing flowers, vegetables, and pollinator-friendly plants that will benefit our entire school community.
This project continues our student-led community service initiative focused on environmentalism and school beautification.
Students will take leadership roles by organizing soil preparation days, guiding younger grades in planting, and helping create shared outdoor learning spaces for the whole school. Their work will directly support other classrooms by giving them ready-to-use garden beds where they can explore plant science, sustainability, and healthy living.
With access to quality soil, students will be able to teach others how healthy soil supports ecosystems, how plants grow, and why caring for the earth matters. They will create step-by-step guides, garden signs, and short demonstrations for other classes, ensuring that the garden becomes a resource for the entire school—not just a single classroom project.
The potting soil you help fund will allow our students to turn newly built garden beds into vibrant, living spaces that inspire curiosity, responsibility, and community pride. Thank you for helping our students grow their impact even further—one handful of soil at a time.
Donations of ANY size can make a BIG difference!
I picked this organic gardener telling us how to care for soil because he speaks with such obvious affection and enthusiasm for growing things.
Our longer-term project is the one we started on last week, and made good progress on!
Ms. Oxendine teaches middle school in a small North Carolina town very near the South Carolina border. She needs an array of supplies to bring hands-on science to her class.
PROJECT #2
Project: Building Future Innovators with STEM
Resources: Help me give my students the resources needed to spark curiosity for the next generation of thinkers and leaders.
Economic need: An Equity Focus School; nearly all students from low‑income households.
Location: Prospect Elementary School, Maxton, North Carolina
Total: $343.95
Still Needed: $254.54 $229.54
Project description by Ms. Amber Oxendine: My students are eager to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), but they need the right tools and resources to bring these subjects to life. With hands-on materials, they can physically build problem-solving skills, and think more creatively. Hands-on projects will allow my students to see how STEM connects the the real world.
Together, we can spark curiosity, inspire innovation, and open doors for the next generation of thinkers and leaders.
Your support will help provide engaging resources like lab materials, circuit tools, and other supplies that make learning learning exciting and meaningful.
Donations of ANY size can make a BIG difference!
Barnes & Noble made this short video to explain the idea of Snap Circuits.
Our main project from last week was completed! Thanks to our fabulous readers, other donors took notice and helped us reach the project’s goal.
Project #1, Everyday Supplies for PALs: Mrs. Linares needed materials to create interactive books and other learning materials tailored to her class at a Los Angeles preschool that includes special needs students.
She writes: Thank you very much for donating to our project. The materials will be used by my students to ensure they are obtaining the maximal amount of support to ensure their learning. We will be able to create stickers and learning tools that will be used every day. I truly appreciate the support that you have given my class and my students.
DonorsChoose has developed the designation Equity Focus Schools to describe some schools that submit projects. They meet ANY of these criteria:
❧ At least 50% of students are Black, Latino, Native American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, or multiracial
❧ At least 50% of students qualify for free or reduced price lunch
❧ Rural schools where more than one third (34+%) of the students are eligible for free and reduced priced lunch
You can read more at the link about their efforts to address the longstanding inequity in education.
Founded in 2009, The Inoculation Project seeks to fund science, math, and literacy projects in public school classrooms and libraries. Our conduit is DonorsChoose, a crowdfunding charity founded in 2000 and highly rated by both Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau.
Every Sunday, we focus on helping to fund projects in neighborhood public schools where the overwhelming majority of students come from low-income households. We welcome everyone who supports public school education — no money is required!
Finally, here’s our list of successfully funded projects — our series total is 1204! The success-list diary also contains links and additional information about DonorsChoose.
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