UNITED STATED
Needed: graphing calculators for math classes at Roosevelt High, rubber slippers for students at Ilima Intermediate, gently used surfboards for the surf team at Castle High and 100 pounds of kitty litter with 30 big buckets for use as portable potties in the event of an extended lockdown at Jarrett Middle School.These are some of the requests you'll find at a website -- helphawaiischools. com -- aimed at linking schools statewide with donors.
The site, which started as a pilot project involving only a few campuses, was extended to all Hawaii's public schools this year at a time when principals and teachers are increasingly turning to the community to fill in gaps left behind by budget cuts.
"Schools have been more actively seeking donations," said Judy Nagasako, an educational specialist in the Department of Education's corporate and community partnerships office.
And community members and corporations have so far been responding: In the 2009-10 school year, the DOE got $3.9 million in gifts (monetary or in-kind) of more than $500, up 25 percent from the year before.
Thousands of dollars more in smaller contributions went to schools through everything from bake sales to pancake breakfast fundraisers.
Schools have long held fundraisers to cover a variety of expenditures, but several are asking for more support to buy basic supplies, keep after-school programs alive, fund special activities or for big technological upgrades or campuswide improvements that they would have had to put on hold because of the tough fiscal times.
So far this school year, there have been at least five fundraisers at Enchanted Lake Elementary School, estimated Parent Community Network Center coordinator Barb Huonker.
The donations went to a variety of needs, including after-school programs and the salary of an art teacher who goes from classroom to classroom.
This year the student council started a school store to raise money for activities.
And the school is also seeking funds from the community to buy a new laminator and poster maker for teachers.
"Schools are having to do more and more fundraising," said Huonker, already in the midst of planning another fundraiser.
On the DOE's helphawaiischools.com, there are a host of requests for the mundane -- white-board markers and construction paper -- to the unique -- Afro-Caribbean percussion instruments, a golf cart and Christmas stockings stuffed with toiletries.
Alvah Scott Elementary School in Aiea recently posted a request on the site for liquid soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels and tissues to help students stay healthy during flu season.
The school has already received a few responses -- and a big donation of soap.
"Times are hard," said Pam Silva, Alvah Scott's primary school adjustment coordinator, who also helps with fundraisers and volunteer projects.
She said the school is trying to be creative in getting what it needs in tough times without overtaxing parents' pocketbooks.
"It is hard because they're hurting, too," she said.
Kaiser High School has taken a different approach to attracting donations.
Instead of increasing the number of fundraisers it holds, the school did away with almost all of them and instead held its first "Cougar Pride" campaign last year, encouraging every parent to donate whatever they could afford.
The fundraiser made $28,000, which went to setting up Wi-Fi Internet campuswide and buying electronic bulletin boards and 61 laser printers.
"It takes the place of selling sausages and bread and cookies and candy," said Principal John Sosa, adding that in addition to raising money, the campaign is about bolstering pride and boosting parent involvement.
"Great schools have great pride," he said. "That pride comes from within. It comes from contributing. It's raising people's commitment to this place."
The school wants to top its fundraising total this year and is asking each family to give $150. The funds will go to the school's supply budget, supporting nonsports clubs (such as debate and math) and infrastructure upgrades.
Kathie Wells, founder and volunteer president of Community Helping Schools, runs her own website with "wish lists" from 69 schools in Honolulu and Windward and Leeward Oahu. She also fields calls and e-mails from donors.
Wells said more schools are asking for extra help amid the budget cuts.
"When you have a budget cut, you have to prioritize," said Wells, whose nonprofit celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. "The short answer is they (schools) need everything."
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