Cradles to Crayons is gearing up to distribute over 250,000 backpacks brimming with school supplies to students in Massachusetts, Illinois, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.
The biggest free backpack distribution program in the region is the “Ready for Learning” initiative of the non-profit organization. Its aim is to eliminate the unseen obstacles to education and enable children to feel secure, appreciated, and prepared to learn.
Families in Massachusetts, Chicago area, Wilmington, Delaware, and Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will be receiving brand-new backpacks filled with new folders, notebooks, pencils, crayons, and other essential supplies.
According to a press release by the organization, Clothing Insecurity, which refers to the lack of essential school items and affordable and appropriate clothing, is a major obstacle to academic success. It affects the ability of children to concentrate and attend school regularly. C2C is the sole non-profit organization that focuses on tackling this issue on a large scale. The organization plans to distribute over one million packages containing clothing, footwear, essentials, and diapers to families and children in need through its extensive network.
According to the announcement, preparing students for the upcoming academic year has become more expensive than ever before. In fact, families with school-aged children spent an average of $890.07 on back-to-school essentials in the year 2023, resulting in a total expenditure of over $41 billion nationwide – both of which are record-breaking figures. To ease the financial burden on families who are already struggling to cope with the rising cost of living, C2C’s ‘Ready for Learning’ initiative aims to remove the economic barrier.
Thousands of volunteers participated in three “Backpack-A-Thon” events held on July 31 in Chicago, Illinois, August 1 in Boston, Massachusetts, and August 2 in Wilmington, Delaware. Another event is scheduled for August 22 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Lincoln Financial Field. During these events, volunteers pack backpacks for students in need.
Not only does C2C receive assistance from numerous corporate and individual volunteers, but it also garners support from prominent figures in the entertainment industry, such as Daniel Kyri, who is best known for his role on the hit TV series Chicago Fire.
Addressing the volunteers, Daniel expressed his gratitude by saying, “You all are the driving force behind the continuation of Cradles to Crayons’ mission to support children in the Chicagoland area and equip them with the necessary supplies to learn and develop.”
The Chi’s very own Cortez Smith expressed his gratitude towards the annual event that has been making a significant impact for nine years now. With over 700 enthusiastic volunteers coming together to fill 30,000 backpacks, the event has successfully raised support for kids in low-income areas and homeless families. Smith extended his appreciation to everyone involved, acknowledging the event’s contribution to making a real difference in the lives of the children.
Lynn Margherio, the founder and CEO of Cradles to Crayons, believes that providing children with necessary school supplies, clothing, and shoes instills in them a sense of confidence, enthusiasm, and dignity as they return to school.
She emphasized that neglecting the fundamental necessities of children can have severe and long-lasting consequences.
Since its establishment in 2002, Cradles to Crayons has been providing essential packages such as clothing, shoes, diapers, and school supplies to children who lack access to these resources. With almost 6 million packages supplied, Cradles to Crayons firmly believes that every child deserves the necessary clothing essentials to feel safe, warm, valued, and prepared to learn.
Margherio emphasized that clothing insecurity and lack of school supplies are among the top 10 reasons why children do not attend school. Their organization is committed to ensuring that students have everything they need to succeed in the classroom. Margherio expressed gratitude to their corporate sponsors, service partners, and supporters who help them provide assistance to children during these important developmental years.
