Coloring in School Supply Deficiencies Rox-Yunk Community Supports Nonprofit

As students headed back into classrooms across the city, one local group is striving to give students the school supplies they need for a successful year.

Cradles to Crayons, a nonprofit that collects learning and living materials (spanning... cradles to crayons) for children from infancy to age 12, kicked off its "Ready for School" campaign with hopes to send over 10,000 area children back to school with backpacks and other needed supplies.

"Our mission serves disenfranchised children throughout their life span of 12 and in turn strengthens the family system," Cradles to Crayons executive director Kelly Clarke said.  "No child should go without the very basics in life to be successful."

Founded in Boston in 2002, the program collects school supplies, clothes, shoes and other materials that keep children learning and protected from the elements as they grow up.

The Philadelphia chapter began with eight local social service agencies, shelters and hospitals that served as distribution partners for over 200 children. According to Clarke, the group now serves over 30,000 children in the five-county Philadelphia region, with 520 distribution partners and 700 volunteers circulating through the group's warehouse in Conshohocken every month.

"The need is great in our own backyard. So, this organization takes care of those underserved children in otherwise go unnoticed."

Manayunk and Roxborough business are hardly strangers to Cradles to Crayons' initiatives. Totally Posh Boutique at 4203 Main St. and JD McGillicuddy's at 111 Cotton Ave. have helped with fundraising efforts for the organization. Beneficial Bank, Bank of America, Comcast and Philadelphia Phillies Charities are just a handful of city donors.

And area residents can donate at dozens of drop-off locations including a number of Beneficial Bank locations, particularly 7124 Ridge Ave. in Roxborough. Desired items include clothes, shoes, books, arts and crafts supplies, baby supplies and equipment, toys and hygiene materials. Outerwear clothing, toys and books can be lightly used.

But despite the outpouring of support from the community, there is still a need for more interest, donations and financial backing.

"Fundraising continues to be a priority as the economic downturn has affected those who at one time were giving to those less fortunate are now finding themselves at the other end of the spectrum," Clarke said.  

The nonprofit's website hosts a slew of ways residents can get involved. Families can host a goods drive, volunteer at the group's warehouse, The Giving Factory, in West Conshohocken.

"When you donate to Cradles to Crayons, you can be absolutely sure that your donation will go to a deserving local child, for whom the donation was specifically requested," reads the organization's opening statement on its website.

Students can become part of the organization's programming through the Youth Leadership Council, which helps young Philadelphians facilitate activities with these sorts of area programs. Children can even register their birthdays through the website and have guests collect donations instead of gifts for the parties.  

This is the first year the Roxborough Beneficial Bank has opened a drop-off location, so there is no data yet as to how much material has been collected specifically in the area. However, spokeswoman Rhonda Feder said that 10,000 backpacks were collected for schoolchildren this year through community drives.

"We're excited they are collecting at Beneficial Bank," she said.

To learn more about Cradles to Crayons and its volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, call 215-836-0958 or visit cradlestocrayons.org.