Cradles to Crayons Provides for Poor Children

Boston/Philadelphia Group Distributes Much-Needed Items to Kids

Oct 7, 2008

Cradles to Crayons, a Boston-based charity with an office in Philadelphia, collects gently used children's clothing, toys and games, for distribution to poor children.

For this coming winter, Boston's Cradles to Crayons (C2C) has determined to collect at least 10,000 winter coats for children. Last year (2007), they had orders for over 5,000 coats.Drives are being held in Marshfield, Braintree and Reading into November, as well as a Next Generation Children's Center Winter Coat Drive, through October 10. The current economic troubles mean C2C expects an unprecedented demand for the coats and other children's items.

Outgrown Toys and Clothes

Cradles to Crayons was founded in 2002 in Boston by former White House policy advisor, Lynn Margherio. She was visiting family when she realized how many outgrown clothes and toys her nieces and nephews had. Understanding how difficult it is to connect with families in need, she founded Cradles to Crayons.

Margherio's - and Cradles to Crayons' - mission is "to provide, free-of-charge, low income and homeless children from birth to pre-teen the basic essentials they need to be safe, warm, ready to learn, and valued."

Children in Need

According to the National Center for Children and Poverty, nearly 500,000 Massachusetts children live in poor or low-income households. Data from the US Census Bureau cites Philadelphia as having the highest poverty rate among the nation's ten largest cities (Sepember 2006, The Philadelphia Inquirer).

Cradles to Crayons opened a second distribution partner in Philadelphia in 2006.

The "Giving Factory"

This summer, the Philadelphia "Giving Factory" celebrated its first anniversary. Founded in 2006, C2C - Philadelphia held an open house on June 26 this year. Visitors from contributors such as Bank of America, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Liberty Properties and Burns Mechanics toured the building, after collecting new bags at the door. The bags were meant to take home and fill with donations from their children. In one year alone, Cradles to Crayons- Philadelphia helped nearly 5,000 children in the local area, using the skills of over 3,300 volunteers and partnering with 115 social service organizations to distribute the clothing to poor children.

Cradles to Crayons states, "We're the glue between communities that have and communities that need. . . .By partnering with social service agencies for distribution, we have a direct channel to serve tens of thousands of children in need each year."

Boston Children Helped

From 2002 to 2008, Cradles to Crayons (Boston) helped over 75,000 children. Its distribution partners include shelters, health centers, schools, parenting programs and day cares. "In 2006 alone," its web site states, "30,000 local children received high-quality children's goods to keep them warm, safe at home, and ready to learn at school."

This was made possible by over 20,000 volunteers and a network of over 300 social service agencies.

Philadelphia Volunteers Come Through

Recently, Philadelphia C2C held a "Backpack-a-thon" at which volunteers provided supplies in backpacks for over 2,000 children. November 22, it will sponsor its "Un-Gala" fundraiser, called a family time to give. It promises "family-friendly volunteer activities, live music and a buffet lunch."

This year's C2C needs list (Boston) includes winter coats and boots, sneakers and shoes; new socks and underwear (all sizes), outlet covers and cabinet locks. In Philadelphia, the top five needs are for children's books (age 0-2), new socks and underwear, especially for boys, boys' clothing sizes 5/6, 7/8, and 14/14+, diapers and diaper bags, and batteries, especially "C" batteries. Cradles to Crayons wants all items to be top quality ("good enough for your own child", and to include all pieces and instructions.

Donors and Volunteers Needed

Donations and volunteers are always welcome at C2C. Donations are taken at the Boston-area warehouse, Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 3 PM, the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Saturdays, 11 AM - 3 PM, and the 3rd Sunday from 11 AM - 3 PM. The address is 82 Myrtle Street, North Quincy, MA, 02171.

The copyright of the article Cradles to Crayons Provides for Poor Children in Social Activism is owned by Darcy DeMarco. Permission to republish Cradles to Crayons Provides for Poor Children in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.