Gear Up for Winter
Gear Up for Winter
Help Keep Children Warm This Winter
Our Gear Up for Winter initiative supplies winter gear to local children whose families struggle to afford these expensive items.
Help us reach our goal to distribute: 53,000 winter coats, 14,000 packages of winter accessories, and 156,450 packages of additional essentials.
Donate now to help keep children warm
There’s a way for everyone to help make a difference this season!
Ways to Support Gear Up for Winter
Drop off your new or gently-used clothing and footwear—especially cold-weather items—at one of our 70+ Massachusetts drop-off locations. We’ll process your donations with our volunteers and distribute them to local children.
Help keep our Giving Factory shelves full of the winter essentials we provide. We update the items on our Amazon Wish List every month to highlight our most needed items, so your donations are always having the biggest impact.
Fulfill a child’s winter clothing needs with our Give Back with an Outfit Pack program. Donate an Outfit Pack (contains one week’s worth of clothing)—crucial layers that allow a child to dress appropriately and safely for the harsh winter cold.
Sign up for a fun, hands-on volunteer shift at our Newton Giving Factory. Help process donations and package up essential items to help children get what they need this winter. Sign up with friends, family, colleagues, or as an individual!
Volunteer in The Giving Factory
Hosting a virtual coat drive is an easy and fun way to help us provide coats to kids this winter. Start your Coats for Kids virtual fundraiser, where every $15 gift will ensure that one child receives a warm winter coat.
NBC and Cradles to Crayons are teaming up now through January 31 to make sure every child has a coat to stay warm this winter! Our Bundle Up New England program encourages you to donate new or gently-used winter coats.
The Need in Massachusetts
Winters in our region are brutally cold, and rising energy costs force many households into “heat or eat” decisions. 1 in 3 children in Massachusetts face Clothing Insecurity, and without winter coats, boots, and other warm essentials, kids risk health issues and are often excluded from recess and play.
87% of our Service Partners say they rely on Cradles to Crayons to provide children’s essentials at no cost. With your help, we can keep local children safe and warm this winter.