![Recommend [MamasLittleHelper]](http://s3.amazonaws.com/arkayne-media/img/badge/logo-recommend-badge-medium.png){kind=icon}
Recently my son’s preschool sent home a flyer stating that throughout the month of March they would be a collection site for donations for the organization Cradles to Crayons. I had heard of them here and there, but didn’t know too much about this non-profit, so I did a bit of research. I thought I’d share the info I learned about Cradles to Crayons with Mama’s readers so that if you would like to donate or volunteer, you can find out how.
From the website I learned:
Cradles to Crayons Philadelphia was founded in 2006. We 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. We also set a foundation for lasting change through the meaningful, tangible volunteer opportunities we provide to thousands of youth and adults each year. The essentials we collect and distribute include clothing, shoes, school supplies, and much more. In other words, we provide all the material goods that children need to be safe, protected from the elements, and ready to learn. And by supplying them with high-quality used or new goods, we make children feel valued. How does it work? We partner with social-service organizations in the Philadelphia area to connect communities that have surplus resources—new or used items in good condition—with communities that desperately need access to those resources. When you donate to Cradles to Crayons, you can be absolutely sure that your donation will go to a deserving local child, for whom the donation was specifically requested.
I really appreciate that Cradles to Crayons is helping the neediest in the Philadelphia area. Before I was a SAHM, I worked in the mental health field in Philadelphia with many children affected by poverty. Many of those kids did not have new clothes ever. Their shoes were worn down and they didn’t usually have the luxury to get new ones when needed. The agency I worked for was able to help provide holiday gifts to the kids that were enrolled in programs there, but I always knew there were so many kids that were not being helped. It is so nice that organizations like Cradles to Crayons exists, with the help of the public, to provide the basic needs to kids. The fact that the Philadelphia branch of Cradles to Crayons was started by a mom who wanted to help kids shows the power of what mother’s can do for kids!
Right now Cradles to Crayons is in need of jeans! Kids sizes infant through 14/16 are needed. They have a top ten list of the most needed items:
* Pants
* Socks & Underwear
* Footballs, Basketballs, Soccer Balls
* Infant Car Seats
* Puzzles & Games
* Baby Toys
* Baby Books
* Sneakers: adult size 2-8
* Baby Carries (Baby Bjorn, Snugli, etc)
* Pack n’ Plays
This spring, there are Spring Greening events being held to help collect needed items for Cradles to Crayons. That is what my son’s preschool is participating in and any organization, mom’s group, etc, can hold a Spring Greening event. If you are interested in hosting a drive please see the Cradles to Crayons website for detailed information. It seems fairly easy to set up and the rewards of helping so many kids is tenfold. If you would just like to donate goods or money, please see here for more information.
