By Dawn Henkel
Madison Needs Network

The fourth annual School Readiness Campaign will be held Saturday, Aug. 17, 10:30 am‒6:30 pm, and Wednesday, Aug. 28, 5‒7 pm, in the Black Hawk Middle School parking lot. Students attending Gompers, Lake View, Lindbergh and Mendota Elementary Schools, Black Hawk Middle School and East High School are eligible for supplies.

Madison Needs Network (MNN) is committed to making sure every child in our community arrives at school prepared for learning, as we believe this is an essential component of a thriving community. One way we can help our community’s learners succeed is by providing the 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 difficult, if not impossible, for families in need. 

For the last three years, MNN’s School Readiness Campaign has focused on providing school supplies to students at Black Hawk Middle School, whose low-income enrollment rate is more than 70%. We have hosted a pop-up store with over 6,000 units of school supplies where students shopped for their needed supplies at no cost.

Our fourth annual School Readiness Campaign aims to continue to make a difference in students’ readiness for school. This year, our school supply store is open to any student in the Black Hawk attendance area — elementary, middle and high school.

Please consider becoming a sponsor to help us stock our store and express our dedication to each and every student in our community. Visit madisonneedsnetwork.org for more information about MNN and how you can help.