Your donation will be used to purchase a set of recorders, xylophones, and fun kazoos for use at home by Fir Grove Elementary students while they learn at a distance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our school already has some of what we need to provide this engaging, hands-on opportunity, but we need help from our community (and fast!) in order to put a musical instrument in every home.   Every $15 donated provides an instrument for one student, and the matching grant makes it two!

When we reach our goal, all Fir Grove students in 4th and 5th grade will receive a recorder and music binder so they can learn to read and compose music at home. Our 2nd and 3rd graders will have a matching set of xylophones to build keyboard skills, and our Kindergarten and 1st grade students will get a colorful kazoo to support the development of their singing, rhythm, and pitch-matching skills. Weekly distance-learning music lessons will help students polish their playing and share their musical creations from home.

The instruments will be distributed at a socially-distanced drive-through event, with home delivery provided for families who can't make it over to the school. We're committed to every one of our 350+ students in this effort. Even after students return to the school building, having an instrument to play at home will increase family involvement and promote inter-generational learning in our community. When the school year is over, we'll collect & clean the instruments so the cycle can begin again.

As a Title I school, Fir Grove serves a population of students who navigate tough circumstances every day. More than 50% of our students live below the federal poverty line. Our enrollment includes students in foster care, students experiencing homelessness, students identified for special education, and students who are English language learners. Over the years, the music room at Fir Grove has been a source of joy and motivation for our students, but with the COVID-19 pandemic, they've have been cut off for months from one of their favorite things about school — playing the instruments. Children thrive when learning is playful & hands-on, so we hope you will give the gift of music to this group of very deserving children.