Charity Cradles to Crayons to Provide Millions of Back-to-School Items to Students in Massachusetts, Chicago, and Pennsylvania
Summer is winding to a close, which can only mean the back-to-school season is already here or right around the corner. And children are likely excited to get back in the classroom and break open those school supplies. However, new clothes, shoes, pencils, backpacks, notebooks and anything else a kid might need can get pricey. That’s why the nonprofit Cradles to Crayons is working to provide students in need with more than 250,000 filled backpacks this year through its ready-for-learning program. Keep reading to learn more about the initiative and how it provides free supplies to those in need.
What is the ready-for-learning program?
This year Cradles to Crayons is ensuring children in need have the supplies they require for a successful school year. Whether that be clothes and shoes or new backpacks and classroom equipment, the ready-for-learning program is ready to distribute these items free of charge.
The “initiative is ??designed to break down hidden barriers to education and empower children to feel safe, valued, and ready to learn,” per a Cradles to Crayons press release. In August, Cradles to Crayons will provide millions of packages of clothing, shoes, diapers and other school essentials to families and their kids.
This is also where 252,000 backpacks filled with school supplies will get passed out or delivered to families.
Why are back-to-school initiatives important?
According to Cradles to Crayons website, “families spend an average of $890 a year to get their kids ready for school from head to toe—and costs continue to rise.” Oftentimes these items are costly and can cause stress when families are trying to keep food on the table or pay rent.
It’s known as a hidden crisis, and this insecurity can hinder academic success because it impacts children’s ability to focus or even be present in school. Cradles to Crayons provides items to kids of birth age to 12 years old to families who can’t always afford these necessities.
“When children have essential school supplies and basic necessities like clothing and shoes, they can go back to school with self-confidence, excitement, and dignity,” Lynn Margherio, founder and CEO of Cradles to Crayons said in a press release. “If kids' basic needs aren't met, the long-term effects can be devastating. Three of the top 10 reasons children do not attend school are due to Clothing Insecurity and lack of school supplies. We are dedicated to ensuring students return to the classroom equipped and ready to thrive.”
Volunteers can help at Backpack-A-Thons
Every year Cradles to Crayons hosts Backpack-A-Thons, an event where all the backpacks get filled with school supplies in just a couple of hours.
More than 2,000 people show up to help including a mix of volunteers and corporate sponsors. The Backpack-A-Thons occurred in Chicago, Illinois, Boston, Massachusetts and Wilmington, Delaware at the end of July and August, marking what was the 9th, 18th and 3rd annual event for each respective location.
The last event will be in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 22, and this year will be the 15th in a row. The Backpack-A-Thons are held in stadiums or arenas large enough to accommodate all the incoming supplies.
You can get involved by volunteering, donating on the website or matching with a child and sending clothes and supplies directly to them.
In 22 years Cradles to Crayons has distributed nearly six million packages of daily essentials and school supplies.
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