SMU students stuff backpacks for 'Ready to Learn'

Saint Mary’s University students, from left, Lori Brunner, Dulcie Basile, Sarah Groebner, and Alex Wieck stuffed more than 200 "Ready to Learn backpacks" with early learning activities for Winona’s 3- to 5-year-olds. The backpacks are given to children when they attend Early Childhood Screening, a requirement for all preschool-aged children before they attend kindergarten. The "Ready to Learn" project is coordinated by the Winona Early Childhood Initiative, in partnership with Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation and grant funding from the Winona Community Foundation. Through the Early Childhood Initiative we are helping to identify and promote early childhood education and care opportunities for children (from birth to age 5) and create local strategies that fill in any gaps. For more information, contact Jenni McHugh at 494-0812, Lezlea Dahlke at ldahlke@selco.info or visit www.smifoundation.org.