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She's Helping College Students Start Strong, One Laundry Basket At A Time

April 17, 2025

Today's good news story comes from Tallahassee, Florida.

A beloved high school science teacher in Florida is going viral once again—but this time, it’s not for her classroom decor.

Yennifer Castillo / GoFundMe

Yennifer Castillo, who has captivated millions on TikTok with her creative classroom makeovers, is making a lasting impact beyond the walls of her school. Since 2018, she has hosted an "Annual College Essentials Basket Giveaway" to support first-year college students—many of whom are the first in their families to attend college.

Each year, Castillo personally assembles and donates customized laundry baskets filled with essentials like sheets, comforters, toiletries, and school supplies. Her goal? To ease the financial strain of preparing for college and to remind students that they have a community cheering them on.

GoFundMe

"I started this giveaway because I know firsthand how tough it can be to start college without the basics," Castillo shared. "When I was preparing for my own college journey, my family couldn’t afford everything on my dorm checklist—but thanks to a few generous people who stepped in, I made it. Now, I’m paying it forward."

This year, she launched a GoFundMe to expand her efforts and pack even more baskets.

"With your help, we can fill more baskets, uplift more students, and make sure no one feels like they’re starting this journey alone," she said.

For Castillo, teaching has always been her dream.

“I have a picture of myself when I was like 7 or 8 years old,” she said. “In the picture, I have a whiteboard and I'm teaching my dolls. I always tell people I'm living in one of my answered prayers. One of my dreams is now real."

From inspiring classroom designs to empowering the next generation of college students, Yennifer Castillo is proof that when passion meets purpose, incredible things can happen.

If you'd like to make a donation to her college essentials basket giveway, click here.