Cradles to Crayons and Freshmen Service

by Maeve Quisenberry '29

Up until 2025, when the poverty rate fell to less than 20 percent for the first time since 1979, Philadelphia has held the position of being the poorest major city in America. Thirteen-thousand children live below the poverty line in our city. To combat these saddening statistics, there are numerous non-profit organizations, service groups, and church communities who help these children get the essentials they need. One organization that stands out among all others is Cradles to Crayons. 

Cradles to Crayons, a non-profit organization which has been serving in the city of Philadelphia since 2007, aids in the effort to end childhood poverty. However, the organization doesn’t just operate in Philadelphia. Cradles to Crayons also serves communities in Boston, New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco. With the help of over 259,000 volunteers, the organization provides 200,000 children in low-income situations with the essentials they need to have a full life at school and at home. The main focus of Cradles to Crayons is to provide clothing to Philly kids, as federal safety net programs across the state only cover food, housing, and energy. The organization uses the term “Clothing Insecurity” to bring awareness to this issue and formally recognize the “hidden” basic need for adequate clothing. Cradles to Crayons maintains that when kids don’t have shoes that fit or a coat that can keep them warm, it affects their eagerness to learn, go to school, and interact with their peers. Each child is given a better chance to escape poverty through education when they have clothes that they feel confident wearing. In addition to clothing, Cradles to Crayons accepts art supplies, school essentials, hygiene products, and baby items as donations. 

This November, 60 Merion freshmen spent their Office Hours, a time usually spent to foster academic growth, writing backpack notes for the annual Cradles to Crayons Backpack-A-Thon. This event takes place in August before the start of the new school year, and over 75,000 families in the greater Philadelphia and Delaware area will be provided with brand new backpacks, school supplies, hygiene products, and clothing. Handwritten notes from our freshmen included positive messages such as “Have a great school year!”, “Today will be a good day!”,  “Have so much fun today!”, and many more. Over two sessions, nearly 850 notes were written, meaning that 850 children can start their school year with a few words of motivation. Backpack notes not only help to encourage kids to enjoy school, but they also let children know that there are always other people out in the world who are there to help them. My fellow classmates and I who participated felt joy to be able to make a difference, even a small one. It was a true Merion experience; a community brought together by service. We thought of creative messages and fun decorations for notes, because we wanted to put a smile on someone’s face. Though we will never get to meet the kids who receive our notes, we know that they are out there, and we hope that our words made their days a little brighter. 

Cradles to Crayons is always looking for people to help their cause. By donating a jacket, t-shirt, shoes, craft supplies, or hygiene products you are personally making a difference in a child’s life. When seeking to donate, remember that “quality = dignity,” so all donation items should be gently-used or new. There are 18drop-off locations in the greater Philadelphia area; most stay open 24/7. If you want to make a more personal impact, Cradles to Crayons is always welcoming volunteers to work shifts at The Giving Factory, the main warehouse. Volunteers at the Factory help to process and package donated clothing and other items so they can be sent out to children all over the city. Currently, Cradles to Crayons is specifically requesting coats and warm clothing for their “Bundle-Up Philly”  and “Gear Up for Winter” events. Every kid deserves clothing that they can feel confident in, so please consider helping Cradles to Crayons in their effort to end childhood poverty. 

To donate funds, sign-up for service, find drop-off locations, or learn more about Cradles to Crayons and their upcoming events, click the link below.

Cradles to Crayons Official Website - https://www.cradlestocrayons.org/philadelphia/