Ready Set School Sees Typical Demand for Voucher Program

Ready Set School Director Mandi Olson. Photo submitted.

WINONA, Minn. (KWNO)-Ready Set School (RSS) saw a typical demand for their annual school voucher program this year.  

“Vouchers went very smoothly this year. We were able to serve 785 students with $70 vouchers each,” said RSS Director Mandi Olson on KWNO’s In the Know Monday. 

Olson said that figure is more typical and lower than last year, which she says may have been up due to the uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Olson says despite the vouchers serving nearly 800 families, some people missed out on the supplies. 

To help those families, Ready Set School is hoping to collect 200 new backpacks full of supplies. Olson said the backpacks will be donated to students in grades k-12.  

Olson says as of the last week they were about halfway to reaching that goal. They’re asking for the community to donate backpacks full of new school supplies that are typically used by students across all grade levels.  

The backpacks can be dropped at Steak Shop Catering, Hy-Vee, and Ready Set School’s office at the Exchange building. Donors who drop off backpacks at Steak Shop will receive a free scoop of ice cream.