Volunteer Resources

Our address is 4700 Wissahickon Ave, Suite 142, Philadelphia, PA 19144. 

Before heading to our warehouse, please review these DIRECTIONS to the Giving Factory. 

NOTE: You cannot enter from Wissahickon Ave. 

Google Maps has a specific location marker for us if you search “Cradles to Crayons.” When entering our address into a GPS system, be sure to add “Suite 142” to make sure you’ll get to our Giving Factory front door. 

We have a large parking lot directly in front of our entrance. You may park on either side of the fence in any spot not designated for another organization. 

Please wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes and clothing that can get dirty. The warehouse can be warm or cool based on the weather outside, so we recommend wearing layers. 

Due to high levels of interest in volunteering, we are often fully booked, so you may not stop in without registering in advance.

Please create a volunteer portal to register for a shift individually, with a group, or with your family. For corporate and community groups, a C2C team member will work with you to find available dates and times to accommodate your group. You are not scheduled until you receive a confirmation email. 

Yes. As a group leader, it is crucial that you pre-register ALL volunteers through our volunteer portal. It is important you enter every individual and their email address so they can receive and sign their waiver prior to their volunteer visit. All volunteers must sign the waiver before volunteering. 

• A Cradles to Crayons staff member in purple will greet you, help you check-in, and lead you to our forum area for your pre-shift service activity. 
• Once all groups have arrived, volunteers will gather for a brief orientation to hear about Cradles to Crayons and our mission. You will then be escorted to your assigned work stations. 
• Your station leader will provide instructions about your tasks for the shift and will be present during the entire shift to answer questions or provide assistance. 
• You may be involved in a range of service activities, as our production needs change daily.  These may include sorting, cleaning, inspecting, or packaging donated goods for children, or another type of warehouse activity.  
• At the end of your shift, you will hear a brief wrap-up of your impact. After, there will be a photo opportunity available.  

Yes, we strongly encourage volunteers to clean out their closets prior to their volunteer visit. Student and community groups are required to host a drive prior to their visits. When you arrive at the warehouse, please place donations in the large purple donation bin at the base of our stairs in the parking lot. 

To ensure the safety of your personal belongings, we recommend keeping your most important items on your person. For additional items, we have a locked storage bin in our registration area upon your arrival.  

Yes. Members of our Family Leadership Circle are able to self-register in advance and volunteer as a family or individual as often as they wish. Click here to learn more about and join this dedicated community. 

For safety reasons, all children present during a volunteer shift must be at least 5 years old.

Volunteers under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult chaperone who will participate alongside them for the duration of the shift. Students may not chaperone other students.  

Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or other official adult group leader. Teenage friends may not accept responsibility/liability for other teens. 

For adult-to-child ratios and other important information, please click here for Student Group Expectations and Guidelines.

You are welcome to volunteer with your family! An adult will need to create a volunteer portal account for your group. 

If you are looking for an opportunity to support Cradles to Crayons while developing leadership skills on an independent basis, or if you are working toward specific goals for NHS, scout badges, Mitzvah or Confirmation projects, or any other service requirement, we offer a structured program to assist with Independent Student Service Projects throughout the school year. For more information, email Emily at ERussell@cradlestocrayons.org . 

High school students can apply to join the Teen Leadership Corps (TLC) or start a C2C Club in their school.

In an effort to accommodate all community members who are looking to help, volunteers are currently limited to 2 volunteer shifts per month. Each volunteer shift is 2 hours, so we may not have the availability for you to complete all of your requirements with us.  

If you are working toward specific goals for NHS, scout badges, Mitzvah or Confirmation projects, or any other service requirement, we offer a structured program to assist with Independent Student Service Projects throughout the school year. For more information, email Emily at ERussell@cradlestocrayons.org. 

Volunteers will be working with donations from the community, so we cannot guarantee that items you will handle have not come into contact with allergens. Please keep in mind that donations may have been stored in a basement or attic, or come from a home with pets. It is common for volunteers to be in contact with dust or dirt. 

We have masks and gloves available upon request. 

Please indicate this in the accommodations field of your registration. If you are looking to come as part of a group, please indicate this information in your communications with a team member as you work together to find a date and time for your group. We would appreciate any information that you are able to give about the individual or group that you are coaching in order to ensure the best possible volunteer experience for them.  

There are both stairs and ramp access to our Giving Factory entrance. Once inside, the floor is a single level.   

ADA compliant men’s, women’s, and gender-neutral restrooms are available for volunteers. 

We have a wellness room available for nursing moms. 

Most volunteer activities require standing for the duration of the shift. If you, or anyone in your group, requires a seated option, please indicate that in the accommodations section on your volunteer portal account or let a team member know upon arrival.