Teens at Cradles to Crayons 2nd Annual Backpack-a-Thon in
August 2008, where 500 volunteers helped to fill 20,000 backpacks with
brand new school supplies for Boston area kids ages 4-12 heading back to school
Cradles to Crayons (C2C) envisions that “one day, every child will have the basic things they need to be safe, ready to learn, and feel valued.”
Backpacks, notebooks, folders, pens, and pencils are necessities that low-income and homeless children don’t take for granted. That’s why Cradles to Crayons, based out of North Quincy runs a “Ready for School Campaign” each Fall that helps area children age 0-12 come to school prepared. As part of the program Cradles to Crayons will provide over 20,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to help kids start the school year off right. This annual “Back-Pack-A-Thon” begins on Friday, August 14th, at Boston’s City Hall Plaza. The non-profit also works with companies, organizations, and individuals to provide students in need throughout the year with what Development Coordinator Rebecca Monen refers to as “kidpacks” filled with “toys, books, clothes, and everyday essentials.” Last year, the organization gave over 40,000 area kids a “kidpack” of everyday essentials or a new backpack filled with supplies.
Cradles to Crayons offers teens many different volunteer opportunities. “We have volunteer opportunities Tuesday through Fridays and the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Saturday and the 3rd Sunday of the month,” says Monen. “We also have a Teen Leadership Council that leads volunteer groups.” Made up of high school students in the Boston area, the Teen Leadership Council (TLC), helps Cradles to Crayons not only fulfill its mission of equipping children with the essentials they need but also of building a foundation of service that students can practice into adulthood. “Teens join TLC and must complete a certain number of volunteer hours, which includes working both in our warehouse and out in their communities,” says Volunteer Coordinator Ellen Slattery.
Sharon Lee, an upcoming senior at North Quincy High School has been volunteering with the organization since her freshman year. “On the first day at Cradles to Crayons, I had little understanding of the organization or what I was going to do,” explained Lee in an email. “However, my passion for the people, their goals, and the children has grown endlessly ever since that very first day.” Lee is currently a member of Cradles to Crayon’s Teen Leadership Council where she has gained invaluable leadership skills and life experiences. “TLC has taught me more than just leadership skills, but also exposed me to life lessons and experiences,” she says. “It has taught me how to handle difficult situations and how to be positive solving problems. Because of Cradles to Crayons and TLC, I have grown emotionally and mentally.”
Slattery believes that teens benefit from volunteering with Cradles to Crayons. “The teens not only get a chance to lead their peers in service, but also develop of a sense of what volunteering is and connect with other people from different backgrounds,” she says. “They gain a sense of leadership and self-worth, build a network of peers, establish themselves in their communities and schools as leaders, and grow emotionally and mentally as they learn about people of various backgrounds and socioeconomic situations.”
Students interested in applying for the Teen Leadership Council Fall session can visit the Cradles to Crayons Web site and fill out an application at www.cradlestocrayons.org. The Teen Leadership Council consists of two crews: the Community Crew, a group that hosts product drives in their community; and the Factory Crew, a team that leads groups of volunteers for projects at The Giving Factory (C2C’s colorful Quincy warehouse space where they store and process all of the toys, books, clothing, and other goods that are donated).
You can also contribute to Cradles to Crayons by dropping off new or top quality items for kids ages 0-12, volunteering at the Giving Factory, hosting an event, or making a donation. Some of the most needed items include: shoes; new socks/underwear; jackets; bedding; new school supplies; and books.
Registered TeenLife Boston members can learn more about Cradles to Crayons by visiting their online profile. If you are not a member, JOIN NOW.
Natalie Ornell is a former TeenLife Boston intern. She is currently a sophomore at Wellesley College and is interested in East Asian Studies, Journalism, and English
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