It's Time to Get Ready-to-Learn!

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, WeCAN is starting its annual collection of new school supplies for K-12 students in its service area. Items that WeCAN ran short of during last year’s distribution included quality backpacks (grade school and large size), 1 inch 3-ring binders, pocket folders, wide lined spiral notebooks and dry erase markers. See the complete list below. 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 17th: Bethel Methodist, Christ Lutheran Church (Maple Plain), City of Minnetonka Beach, Eddie’s Auto and Marine, Fairview Covenant Church, First Presbyterian (Maple Plain), Good Shepherd Church, Hilltop Adventure Club, Klein Bank (St.Boni), Lyndale Lutheran (Independence), Minnesota Lakes Bank, Mt. Olive Lutheran, Mound Evangelical Free, Mocha Monkey (St. Boni), Our Lady of the Lake, River Valley Church, Scotty B’s, St. Boni City Hall, St. John’s Lutheran, St. Martin’s by the Lake, Tonka Bay City Hall, Wells Fargo, Westonka Library and the WeCAN office.

Another easy way to purchase supplies online is by visiting our wish list at Amazon or Target. Supplies can be mailed directly to WeCAN, 5213 Shoreline Drive, Mound, MN 55364.

Supplies will be distributed to families in the WeCAN service area at the WeCAN office on Tuesday, Aug. 21st, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Recipients should have custody of children entering grades K-12 during the 2018-2019 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, or report card from 2017-2018).

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