Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essentials items they need to thrive - at home, at school, and at play.

We supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities that have with communities that need.

How We Work

Collection:

Cradles to Crayons collects new and nearly new children’s items through grassroots community giving, corporate drives, and donations.

Processing:

Over 1,000 volunteers - individuals, families, community and corporate groups - come to Cradles to Crayons every month to sort, inspect, and prepare customized packs of everyday essentials.

Distribution:

KidPacks - each containing a week’s worth of everyday essentials - are distributed by more than 250 social service agencies to low-income and homeless children living in the Philadelphia region. 91% of our network of hundreds of social service partner agencies report that Cradles to Crayons saves time and helps them to be more effective in serving clients.

Interested in learning more?  Cradles to Crayons 2012 Fact Sheet