For millions of kids, the biggest back-to-school challenge isn’t a difficult subject or homework assignment—it’s having the right school supplies and finding clothing and shoes that fit.
A lack of school supplies, along with clothing insecurity (the lack of affordable, adequate, appropriate clothing), are among the top 10 reasons why children do not attend school. That’s why Cradles to Crayons® (C2C®), the only large-scale U.S. non-profit exclusively focused on ending clothing insecurity, is working to ensure an estimated 250,000 students have the necessary items to start the 2025–26 school year on the right foot.
The need is as high as ever, with inflation driving up prices, squeezing budgets, and forcing parents to make tough decisions between putting food on the table and buying new, properly fitting clothes for their children. As part of its Ready for Learning initiative, C2C will distribute backpacks, school supplies, and quality clothing to children in low-income and homeless situations through a network of service partners across three major metropolitan areas.
“For far too many children, the start of the school year means worrying about having clothing that fits or basic supplies to fill a backpack. This impacts a child’s ability to engage in school and is a roadblock to long-term academic success,” said Christine Morin, CEO of Cradles to Crayons. “In addition to our corporate partners, we welcome support from the broader community as we collect donations of new and gently used clothing to help kids begin the year ready to learn.”
According to the National Retail Foundation, in 2024, families with school-aged children spent an average of:
- $875 on back-to-school items;
- $141.62 on non-electronic school supplies;
- $423.72 on clothing and footwear.
Lacking these items is not only detrimental to a child’s confidence and readiness in the classroom, but it can also be the difference between whether they attend school in the first place.
Chronic absenteeism—defined as having missed at least 10% of the school year—is on the rise across the country. Between the 2018–19 and 2022–23 school years, the percentage of chronically absent K–12 students increased significantly, from 15% to 26% (Brookings Institution, 9/9/24).
C2C is working to break down these hidden barriers to education and prepare children from head to toe to feel safe, valued, and ready to learn on the first day of school.
“We know that kids succeed when they have the clothing and school supplies they need to show up for school confident and fully engaged,” Morin said. “Consistent attendance is one of the most significant predictors of school success, and a pivotal part of children’s futures. We’re grateful to our corporate sponsors and supporters who help us bridge the gap for kids during these critical developmental years.”
As part of the initiative, more than 2,000 corporate sponsors and individual volunteers will participate in a series of “Backpack-A-Thon®” packing events across the regions:
- July 30 in Chicago at Wintrust Arena (10th Annual)
- August 7 in Boston at Boston University’s Agganis Arena (19th Annual)
- August 14 in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field (16th Annual)
More than 300 Service Partners, including schools and social service organizations, will distribute the Cradles to Crayons-packed backpacks filled with new folders, notebooks, and other supplies directly to families in Massachusetts, Chicagoland, and the Philadelphia Tri-State area. This effort makes C2C’s initiative the largest free backpack giveaway in these regions.
Sponsors
Cradles to Crayons’ 2025 Ready for Learning Premier, Presenting, and Platinum sponsors include Discover (Philadelphia and Chicago); Philadelphia Eagles, PECO, Comcast NBCUniversal, KIA (Philadelphia); Bank of America, Jackson National Asset Management & PPM America (Chicago), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, TJX Companies, the Lego Group, BJ’s Charitable Foundation, and MFS Foundation (Massachusetts).
Additional sponsors: AIT Worldwide Logistics, AvalonBay Communities, Enova International, Essential Utilities, Fidelity Investments, Independence Blue Cross, ITW, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Neuberger Berman, New Balance Foundation, Ropes & Gray LLP, Safety Insurance, Sanofi, Savills, Tokio Marine North America Services, and Topfer Family Foundation.
About Cradles to Crayons®
Cradles to Crayons® (C2C®) is leading the way to end clothing insecurity for children by providing new and gently used clothing and other essentials—free of charge—to children experiencing homelessness, crisis, or low-income situations. Through local and online clothing donation collections, education, advocacy, and mobilizing 50,000+ volunteers annually, the non-profit distributes more than one million packages of bundled clothing and essentials, including 18 million individual items, a year to families in Chicagoland, Greater Philadelphia, Massachusetts (headquarters), NYC, and San Francisco, in collaboration with a network of nearly 350 Service Partners.
Founded in 2002, Cradles to Crayons’ strong financial health, ongoing effectiveness, and reliability have helped it earn a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator every year since 2009. Learn more at cradlestocrayons.org.
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