It's time to get Ready-to-Learn!

One easy way to purchase school supplies is to order from our Amazon Wish List and have the items shipped directly to WeCAN at 5213 Shoreline Drive, Mound, MN 55364.

For many western Hennepin County families struggling with unemployment or the increasing costs of basic necessities like groceries and gas, back-to-school shopping puts significant stress on the household budget.

To ease some of that stress, the Western Communities Action Network (WeCAN) is starting its annual collection of new school supplies for K-12 students next week. Items that are always in high demand include large sturdy backpacks, pocket folders, glue sticks, Fiskar brand scissors (5 and 7 inch), art sketch books, composition notebooks, wide-lined spiral notebooks, Flair/felt black markers and dry erase markers. Help WeCAN make sure that every child starts the school year with the supplies he or she needs!

Collection boxes will be at the following locations through August 15: Bethel Methodist, Christ Lutheran Church (Maple Plain), Westonka Early Childhood Center, Fairview Covenant Church, First Presbyterian (Maple Plain), Good Shepherd Church, Jubilee Foods, Klein Bank (St.Boni), Lyndale Lutheran (Independence), Minnesota Lakes Bank, Minnetonka Beach City Hall, Mt. Olive Lutheran, Mound City Hall, Mound Evangelical Free, Mocha Monkey (St. Boni), Our Lady of the Lake, Scotty B’s Restaurant,St. Boni City Hall, Tonka Bay City Hall, St. John’s Lutheran, St. Martin’s by the Lake, Wells Fargo, Westonka Library and the WeCAN office.

Supplies will be distributed to families in the WeCAN service area at the WeCAN office on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Recipients should have custody of children entering grades K-12 during the 2017-2018 school year and bring the following: ID for parent/caregiver, proof of address (lease, utility bill from past 30 days) and ID for each child receiving school supplies (school ID, medical insurance card or report card from 2016-2017).

WeCAN is in need of volunteers to help organize and distribute supplies. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please contact WeCAN at 952-472-0742.

Last year WeCAN provided over 220 children with the supplies they needed to be “Ready to Learn.” WeCAN’s Ready to Learn program cannot happen without the generosity of the community. You truly make a difference!