The need for classroom materials and project supplies has been magnified by the global pandemic. Teachers and students have faced especially heightened challenges since schools first began closing last March. From bouncing between in-person learning to virtual learning and back again, to trying to focus on arithmetic while worrying about health and safety, students and teachers are in need of support. Now more than ever, resources like books, pens, notebooks, connectivity devices, and learning kits and games are in short supply.
To help fill the gap, LyondellBasell U.S. employees supported 897 schools across the nation through DonorsChoose, a non-profit organization enabling communities to fund classroom projects for public schools in the United States. Employee donations helped aid 1,200 classroom projects for grades K-12 that ranged from 3D printers to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), robotics and those that included art supplies and books.
“I don't know a single teacher that doesn't use their own money to help pay for items their students need in the classroom,” said Jennifer Cunningham, senior engineer, LyondellBasell Channelview Complex. “I’m proud to work for a company that enabled me to team up with some of my colleagues to fully supplement a classroom in a low-income school district. This was truly a testament to the power of many and the difference we can make when working together.”
Through DonorsChoose, teachers create projects requesting resources and materials to help their students learn. Donors give in any amount to projects that inspire them. When a project is fully funded, the DonorsChoose team orders and ships resources directly to the verified teacher.
“I teach a third-grade class at a Title I school in Akron, Ohio,” said Ms. Walters-Graves. “My students live in the inner-city and most are from low-income households. My students don’t have access to computers at home, but they work hard and bring an attitude that is ready and determined to learn every day, all day. I appreciate the work that DonorsChoose and LyondellBasell have done to assist in making sure that my students have access to tablets.”
At school or at home - wherever learning happens - DonorsChoose provides an avenue to help companies like LyondellBasell enable employees to help advance communities and learning all over the country.
“The materials I received have provided fun engineering activities for second grade female students,” stated Mr. Pena, teacher, Pasadena, TX, in a letter to LyondellBasell. “We recently had competitions for a remote-controlled robotic arm to see who could stack blocks the fastest without having them fall. It was a blast for me and my students who participated, both in class and virtually. Thank you all for the materials.”
For more information on ways LyondellBasell employees around the globe support the communities where they live and work, click here.
