Cradles to Crayons

About Cradles to Crayons


Cradles to Crayons provides children under 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 that can help with communities in need. 

Gear Up for Winter


Cradles to Crayons experiences a sharp rise in demand for their services from October through December and requests for support can increase to 1,300 requests per week. Families are often forced to choose between necessities such as groceries, rent, and heat; children’s winter-appropriate outerwear, clothes and footwear become unaffordable. In response, the Gear Up for Winter initiative provides children in Massachusetts with winter coats, boots, hats, gloves and warm clothing needed during the cold winter months.

Our support enables Cradles to Crayons to avoid turning away requests. In the winter of 2015-16 they were able to reach their goal of serving 32,500 children with warm winter essentials, with all 23,000 children who requested a winter coat receiving one.