Every year, Americans throw out more than 34 million pounds of used textiles, or approximately 100 pounds per person. The majority of these products get sent to landfills—when most items could go back into use.

Our Spring Greening initiative highlights our commitment to serving people and the planet. Cradles to Crayons diverts thousands of pounds of clothing from landfills every year in Chicagoland, redistributing these new and gently used clothing essentials back into use locally and decreasing the overall carbon footprint for these critical clothing resources. Through our Chicago Giving Factory, we’re getting high-quality clothing directly into the hands of children to meet their growing needs.

Clothing donations are the backbone of our efficient and effective model that provides a million packages of clothing essentials every year. Responsible clothing recycling can be complicated—but Cradles to Crayons provides an easy, tangible, and effective way to ensure your donation goes directly to kids in our communities and supports sustainability at the same time.