Addressing Clothing Insecurity for Children

Lynn Margherio, founder and CEO of Cradle to Crayons, discusses the mission of the organization to end clothing insecurity for children. She shares her personal inspiration for starting the organization and the initial activities they undertook to understand the needs of families. Lynn highlights the growth of Cradle to Crayons over the past 20 years, from supplying 2,000 packages to children in the first year to projecting a million packages this year. She emphasizes the impact of the organization through feedback from agency partners and volunteers. Lynn also addresses the ongoing need for essential items and the importance of policy changes to support families in need. She outlines the future goals of Cradle to Crayons, including raising awareness, educating the community, and distributing more packages to children across the United States.

Takeaways

  • Cradle to Crayons aims to end clothing insecurity for children by increasing access to affordable, appropriate, and adequate clothing.
  • The organization has grown from supplying 2,000 packages in the first year to projecting a million packages this year.
  • Feedback from agency partners and volunteers highlights the impact of Cradle to Crayons in providing essential items to children and families in need.
  • There is an ongoing need for essential items, and policy changes are necessary to support families in need.
  • Future goals of Cradle to Crayons include raising awareness, educating the community, and distributing more packages to children across the United States.

Want to learn more, donate, or get engaged?

  • Donate: https://www.cradlestocrayons.org/donate-now/
  • Website: https://www.cradlestocrayons.org/
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c2cboston/ | https://www.instagram.com/c2cphiladelphia/ | https://www.instagram.com/c2cchicago/ | https://www.instagram.com/c2cnyc/
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cradlestocrayons/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/cradlestocrayons
Featured Organization
Cradles to Crayons

Mission

To provide children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school and at play.

About

Childhood poverty is a serious nationwide issue.

The average U.S. family in poverty, with two adults and two children, lives on less than $24,000 a year.

Consider these staggering statistics from the regions where Cradles to Crayons currently operates:More than 1 in 3 Massachusetts children, 12 years old and younger, live in low-income or homeless situations.According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Philadelphia has the highest poverty rate among the nation’s ten largest cities. 3 in 5 Philadelphian children live in poverty.1 in 2 children in Chicago live in low income and homeless situations.Without adequate and appropriate clothing, children face unfair barriers and participate in life on an unequal playing field. Across most of the United States, only three (food, housing, energy) of four basic needs are supported by government safety net programs. Cradles to Crayons uses the term “Clothing Insecurity” as part of our efforts to formally recognize the issue, and increase awareness on this hidden basic need.

Housing & Homelessness
Human Services

Discover More Episodes

Voices That Shaped the Year

chicago
,
illinois
United States

Can Doctors Outshine Health Influencers

San Diego
,
CA
United States

Can Doctors Outshine Health Influencers

San Diego
,
CA
United States