Helping Hands Day at Cradles to Crayons in Boston
PCMA Convening Leaders is finally here! We kicked off the event as in year's past, with the annual Hospitality Helping Hands day. This year, the event was held at Cradles to Crayons, an organization that provides Massachusetts children in need with the essentials they need to feel safe, warm, ready to learn and valued.
Nearly 150 PCMA CL attendees boarded buses early this morning to donate two hours at the Cradles to Crayons Giving Factory. The warehouse was incredible. Filled from floor to ceiling with donations ranging from coats, boots and gloves to toys to art supplies and more.
Before we started sorting and cleaning, we learned that Cradles to Crayons believes that "quality = dignity." They believe that families and children receiving donations deserve to have the same quality in their clothing, toys and supplies as any other child does and that Cradles to Crayons donations should enable every child in need to live with dignity. To meet this standard, every single donation goes through at least three inspections before being donated. They look to make sure all items are clean, have all the pieces necessary to work (including batteries), and are free of rips and tears.
We were quickly put into groups, and the Giving Factory became close to what I can only describe as Santa's Workshop. People were putting together puzzles, testing toy trains, hula-hooping and folding and sorting shirts. Others were filling actual orders placed by homeless shelters and social workers, creating giving kits that will be delivered to children as soon as next week.
We learned that Cradles to Crayons delivers over 17,000 coats per winter to Massachusetts children, and more than 13,000 pairs of hats and gloves. This is their busiest time of year.
Today, PCMA volunteers triaged donation items for 168 kids, created 215 outfit packs (each pack contains a week's worth of clothing for one child), cleaned and sorted toys for 290 children, cleaned and sorted books for 275 children, paired and cleaned 209 pairs of shoes, cleaned and sorted 235 coats and filled orders for 80 kid packs. I'd say it was a productive morning!
At the end of our session, we presented Cradles to Crayons with a check for more than $6,600. It was a terrific and moving morning and we thank PCMA for organizing Helping Hands day every year.