Representative Jack Patrick Lewis visits Cradles to Crayons

Newtonville- On Monday January 31, Representative Jack Patrick Lewis (Framingham) visited Cradles to Crayons’ Giving Factory in Newtonville.

Cradles to Crayons works to elevate clothing insecurity for children. Founder and CEO Lynn Margherio stated “there are more than 305,000 kids in the target age range across the state of Massachusetts” that are in need of this security. 1:3 children in the commonwealth under the age of 12 live in low-income situations and/or are unhoused.

“We were so pleased to welcome Representative Lewis to our Giving Factory,” said Aubrey Conquergood, Executive Director of Cradles to Crayons Boston/Massachusetts. “We are grateful for his support of our work and look forward to growing our partnership!”

“It was a pleasure getting a tour of Cradles to Crayons Massachusetts' Giving Factory and having the opportunity to volunteer, preparing 70 hygiene kits for preteens with Rep. Kay Khan,” noted Rep. Lewis. ''I am grateful to all the staff and volunteers of Cradles to Crayons that are working to meet the basic essential needs of children across our Commonwealth. I first heard of Cradles to Crayons when it was nominated by the “Coming of Age” teen group at UU Wellesley Hills as the recipient of their special worship service donation in 2011. I further learned of their important mission from a local student who had volunteered there for Project 351, and recently I was envious to see Gay For Good - Boston volunteering there last summer. But when the legislature successfully advocated for the inclusion of funds in our first ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) distribution, I decided it was time to see their important work for myself. I am so thankful for their dedication to equity for children of the Commonwealth.”

Cradles to Crayons works to give children a more equal playing field by providing essential items like clothing, diapers, shoes, and school supplies to families through their network of Service Partners (schools, hospitals, community centers, and more). Their mission is to provide children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school, and at play. They supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities. Cradles to Crayons began in Massachusetts and has since grown to Philadelphia and Chicago, with goals of expanding further to help even more children throughout the U.S.

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