Help WeCAN Get Kids 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, the Western Communities Action Network (WeCAN) is starting its annual collection of new school supplies for K-12 students. Items that are always in high demand include large sturdy backpacks, washable markers, colored pencils, Flair/felt tip markers, dry erase markers, blue and black pens, #2 pencils, highlighters, wire-bound sketchbooks, earbuds and headphones, Kleenex, cleaning wipes, quart and gallon sized Ziploc bags. 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 12: Bethel Methodist, Christ Lutheran Church (Maple Plain), Westonka Early Learning Center, Fairview Covenant Church, First Presbyterian (Maple Plain), Good Shepherd Church, Lyndale Lutheran (Independence), Minnesota Lakes Bank, Mount Calvary Lutheran (Excelsior), Mt. Olive Lutheran, Mound Evangelical Free, Mocha Monkey (St. Boni), Our Lady of the Lake, River Valley Church, Scotty B’s Restaurant, St. Boni City Hall, St. John’s Lutheran, St. Martin’s by the Lake, Tonka Bay City Hall, Westonka Library and the WeCAN office.

Supplies will be distributed to families in the WeCAN service area at the WeCAN office on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Recipients should have custody of children entering grades K-12 during the 2019-2020 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 2018-2019).

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 250 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!