WestCAP announces annual back to school drive
West CAP is once again implementing our Back-to-School Program for low-income children in all Dunn County School Districts.
Last year we were able to provide backpacks, notebooks, folders, pencils, pens, glue, scissors, crayons, markers, and other supplies to over 500 students. We expect to serve a similar number of students in grades 4K through 12 this year. According the Annie E. Casey Kids Count data, the percentage of children living in poverty in Dunn County has risen from 9.7% in 2005 to 17% in 2011, the latest year for statistics. This translates to over 1,500 children whose parents struggle providing basic needs like food, shelter and clothing. Getting ready for school and purchasing long lists of supplies is a daunting task for many of these families.
Area businesses and organizations help the effort to support children in need by collecting and donating school supplies. Currently, school supplies may be dropped off at the following locations: Citizen’s State Bank, House Calls, Kivlin Eye Clinic, Thrivent Financial, Midwest Dental, Dollar Tree, Menomonie Public Library, Westconsin Credit Union, Super 8, Kmart, Bremer Bank (Menomonie and Colfax), Menomonie United Methodist Church, Lakeview Floral, UW-Stout, Andersen Corporation, and Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (Elk Mound).
West CAP was established 1965 and was one of the first community action agencies in the United States. It is a 501c3 non-profit organization. West CAP works to promote the self-sufficiency of low-income families in Barron, Chippewa, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, Polk and St. Croix counties with programs for housing, transportation, adult education, and food needs.
If you would like to learn more about West CAP or ways that you can help, please visit our website at www.westcap.org or call 715-265-4271.
