Cradles to Crayons Helps Address Clothing Insecurity

"I’m pretty sure we all have a piece of clothing somewhere in our closets that we either just don't like anymore or don’t wear,” said Jeneen Thomas, the director of partnerships and engagement at Cradles to Crayons Chicago, a nonprofit located in Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago that seeks to address clothing insecurity. If students have new or gently used clothing they can donate it to Cradles to Crayons. Thomas said, “A huge part of our mission is to provide children living in low income and homeless situations with clothing and other essential items that they need to thrive at home, at school and at play.”

Cradles to Crayons has over 70 drop off locations and people can use the map on their website to find a dropoff location nearest to them. “A small gesture such as donating a clothing item or donating $15 to help buy a winter coat can really change and impact the lives of those children and families,” Thomas said. In Chicago, Cradles to Crayons distributed 330,000 packages which came out to 3.65 million items with the help of 15,000 local volunteers.

Thomas said that volunteering with Cradles to Crayons at their Giving Factory at 2500 W. Bradley Place is a great way for students to get involved. “We welcome students into our giving factory all year round, anywhere from elementary all the way to college,” Thomas said. “Volunteer efforts directly support children in nearby neighborhoods, kids who walk the same streets that college students at Wilbur Wright walk also are beneficiaries of the products that we are able to distribute at Cradles to Crayons. I just want college students especially to know that any little bit of time that they have can really make a difference.”

Thomas said, “Donating financially is also a way to get involved. And then lastly it is hosting a collection drive of your own, our team can definitely provide individuals with all of the materials that they need to get that going.”

Alicia Anzaldo, a biology professor at Wright, coordinated the Faculty Volunteer Day in 2023 and 2024 where Wright’s faculty and staff volunteered with Cradles to Crayons.

Anzaldo said about Cradles to Crayons, “They were incredibly organized, they made things easier for us, the work was fulfilling, at the end of the day we were told specifically how many children we had benefitted based on the hours we worked as a group. We did everything from sorting clothes to folding clothes to putting together outfits, some organized books, some cleaned gym shoes.”

Anzaldo said how it was also a great opportunity to get to know colleagues better. ”Things went so well that we decided to go back with them in 2024,” Anzaldo said. “It’s a great organization, anybody that can help in any way should.”

Maria Llopiz and Romell-Murden-Woldu volunteer at Cradles to Crayons at Wright’s  College Day of Service Event in 2023. Photo Credit: Alicia Anzaldo.