By Dawn Henkel
Black Hawk Middle School PTO

Free school supplies are available to any student in the Black Hawk Middle School attendance area through the third annual School Readiness Campaign. The campaign takes place Saturday, Aug. 18 from 10:30 am–6:30 pm and Wednesday, Aug. 29 from 5:30‒7:30 pm at the Black Hawk Middle School parking lot, 1402 Wyoming Way. This event is open to students attending Black Hawk, East High School and Gompers, Lakeview, Lindbergh and Mendota elementary schools.

The School Readiness Campaign is sponsored by the Madison Needs Network (MNN). MNN is committed to making sure that every child in the community arrives at school prepared for learning by providing necessary school supplies. Half of all students enrolled in the Madison Metropolitan School District live below the poverty line; the financial burden of purchasing school supplies is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for families in need. For the last two years, MNN has hosted a pop-up store with over 6,000 units of school supplies where all 350 Black Hawk middle schoolers shopped for their needed supplies at no cost.

The third annual School Readiness Campaign aims to make an even bigger impact by opening the school supply store to any student in the broader Black Hawk attendance area.

Madison Needs Network is seeking sponsors to help stock the school supplies store. More information is available at madisonneedsnetwork.org.