The Challenge
• 2 in 5 kids in the United States do not have adequate access to clothing, diapers and essential items.
• There are no federally funded programs to support clothing need.
The Impact
• A lack of clothing and school supplies accounts for 3 of the top 10 reasons children miss school.
• When children worry about having appropriate clothes, the resulting stress interferes with their self-esteem and their ability to learn, form relationships, and develop emotional resilience.
Our Mission & Vision
Our Mission: Cradles to Crayons provides children living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school and at play. We supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities.
Our Vision: One day every child will have the essentials they need to feel safe, warm, ready to learn, and valued.
How do we do it?
Our Model
We provide kids with the essentials they need, free of charge— clothing and shoes, diapers, hygiene products, warm winter gear, new backpacks and school supplies— so that they can thrive:
• New and nearly new children’s items are collected through grassroots community drives and corporate donations.
• Donations are then processed and packaged by volunteers in our warehouse, The Giving Factory or shipped directly to our service partners through our digital platform, Giving Factory Direct.
• Packages are distributed to children through our collaborative network of diverse service partners.
Essential Items We Provide
• Everyday clothing and shoes
• Pajamas, socks, and underwear
• Diapers and baby wipes
• Winter coats, hats, and gloves
• Backpacks
• School supplies
• Hygiene items
• More
Quality = Dignity
“Cradles to Crayons has become a lifeline to our staff and the families we serve. They haven’t just shown us how to access essential clothing and diapers—they’ve helped us restore dignity, hope, and a sense of stability to lives that often feel uncertain. With care and precision, they fulfill our requests, responding not just with items, but with heart. They do this again and again, year after year, never wavering in their commitment.”
- Kathrine Martin, CEO of Methodist Services (Service Partner)
What have we done?
C2C By the Numbers
6 million packages of essentials distributed to children (clothing, shoes, diapers, and school supplies)
87% of our partners report they wouldn’t be able to provide clothing free of charge to families without Cradles to Crayons’ support
82% of our families make less than $30,000 per year, which is below the federal poverty line
More than 700,000 volunteers engaged in Boston, Chicago and Greater Philadelphia
FY25 MA IMPACT
Cradles to Crayons® is leading the way to end Clothing Insecurity for children across the United States.
415,602 total packages of essentials distributed
47,926 outfit packs
50,576 winter coats
13,626 winter accessories packs
29,396 socks and underwear packs
18,672 pairs of shoes
100+ Service Partners
89,541 diapers (sleeves of 50)
39,941 wipes packs
20,088 hygiene kits
75,000 backpacks with supplies 19,001 school supplies kits 11,834 book packs
51,632 volunteer hours