Chevron’s “Fuel Your School” program comes to Monterey County

San Francisco Giants center fielder, Gorkys Hernandez, surprised kids at Roosevelt Elementary School, in Salinas, Thursday.

Chevron asked Hernandez to accompany them to the school to talk about the “Fuel Your School” program.

The program, founded in 2010, has helped to provide schools, in several counties across the country, with materials and supplies for educators and their students.

This is the first year that program will be implemented in Monterey County.

In the month of October, one dollar out of every “fill-up,” over eight gallons, at a Chevron gas station, will be donated to public schools in the county.

Policy, government, and public affairs representative with Chevron, Andrea Bailey, said they are enthusiastic to see what the program will bring to schools within the community.

“Chevron invests in communities like Salinas and in counties like Monterey because we want our kids to be able to compete in the 21st century,” said Bailey.

Upon eligibility approval, any K-12 educator within a public school will have the opportunity to submit a classroom project request. Each educator is limited to the approval of one request of up to $1,000.

In the past, schools in other counties across the U.S. have requested items such as, computers, headphones, tablets, and books.

Chevron officials said they are encouraging schools to request items that relate to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).

The students and staff at Roosevelt Elementary received donated materials at Thursday’s event.

Administrator of the Salinas City Elementary School District, Hilda Huerta, said she knows her teachers will put the materials to good use.

“The teachers know exactly what is needed in the classroom. There were laptops needed, headphones, wireless. They were also donations of printers, because teachers need to print their curriculum, said Huerta.

Chevron said they hope the new technology will help them succeed within the classroom and beyond.

“We want them to grow up to be scientists, physicists, and chemists, and baseball players,” said Bailey.

Schools and educators can find out if they are eligible for donation by visiting DonorsChoose.org.

Classroom project requests will be accepted throughout the month of October.

For more information on the “Fuel Your School” program, visit www.fuelyourschool.com.