Area teachers can now apply for a McDonald's MAC Grant, which offers financial support to help teachers Make Activities Count for their students.

Local McDonald's owner, Jerry Lewis, is offering this educational initiative to assist area elementary and middle school teachers.

"Recognizing that lessons often become more meaningful when demonstrated with hands-on experiences, McDonald's supplements regular classroom curriculum by supporting activities that the school's budget may not allow," said Lewis.

Kindergarten through eighth grade teachers may apply for grants of up to $400 for interesting and educational projects in their classrooms.

Teachers can use grant money to energize a science lesson by building a weather station or make history come to life by recreating pioneer life with butter churning and candle dipping.

Because McDonald's is soliciting ideas from teachers, project ideas are limitless.

Teachers can find requirements, complete an online application or download an application by visiting www.JerryLewisMcDonalds.com/macgrants.

The deadline for all applications is July 31. A limited number of grant recipients will be chosen on or before Sept. 1. For additional information or questions teachers can call 419-225-5916.

Each year the McDonald's MAC Grant program reaches thousands of students participate in projects that might not have otherwise been possible.

Since the MAC Grant program was started in 2004, Jerry Lewis' McDonald's Restaurants have given more than $109,000 to more than 300 local teachers.

All of the funds for the grant program are from local sales at Jerry Lewis' McDonald's Restaurant locations.