MAKE A DIFFERENCE

There’s never been a better time to do a spring cleaning of your children’s closets and donate to Cradles to Crayons, which is in dire need of new and gently used clothing of all sizes.

One in two children in Chicago is at risk of experiencing clothing insecurity, the lack of access to affordable, adequate, appropriate clothing. Cradles to Crayons (C2C) has seen this need grow due to the pandemic’s impact on the economy and overall emergency needs. But donations aren’t keeping up with the demand. That’s why the nonprofit organization is calling on Chicago area residents to clean out their closets and donate new or gently used clothing for children in need.

Cradles to Crayons needs donations of all types and sizes, including pants, shirts, socks, and shoes from sizes newborn up to adult medium.

“We are currently very low on donations at a time when the need is significant,” says Dawn Melchiorre, Cradles to Crayons Executive Director. “We’re concerned about our ability to continue to meet the need for seasonally appropriate and properly fitting quality clothing for children in homeless and low-income situations in Chicagoland. Now is the perfect time to go through your closets, take out any items your children haven’t worn in the last year, and make a difference in the life of a child less fortunate.”

All of the clothing is distributed to families in need, in the area, free of charge, through Cradles to Crayons’ network of more than 70 service partners.

The national nonprofit—which has operations in Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago—is the only large-scale nonprofit organization to focus on clothing insecurity as a resource gap for children living in homeless or low-income situations. All items collected stay in the community, allowing donors to reduce their carbon footprint and help their neighbors in need.

Items can be dropped off at Community House in Winnetka, the Highwood Public Library, Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, St. Paul AME Church in Glencoe, the Belvidere Recreation Center in Waukegan and dozens more locations throughout the Chicago area.

For more information and additional drop-off sites, visit cradlestocrayons.org.