Q: Where do I start?
A: To scan, you need to have a scanner or have access to a scanner. If you have a scanner, then scan the documents. If you don't have one, see if you can use some one's scanner. If you want to buy one, they are quite cheap and cost less than USD 100 (check out Epson, Cannon, etc). The scanner allows you to scan the document to a file both text files as well as PDF files. Of course, the scanner allows you to scan other things like photos, receitps etc.. so it may be handy to have. If you save to a PDF file, you get a document that looks exactly like the original. You can copy everything on this document (select all and copy to clipboard), go to Word and paste. Then save the Word file. You may not get all the formatting of the original, but you will get most of the formatting and all of the text. Note the original for the scanned document must be of good quality. For editing a PDF file (usually most documents are scanned as PDFs), you will need a PDF writer (Adobe or other brand) or Adobe Elements. These programs allow you to make minor editing on the PDF file itself. Having a PDF writer will allow you to make print a Word or Excel or other file to a PDF format and send it.