Quincy nonprofit seeks children's footwear

By Christine Wallgren, Globe Correspondent  |  December 24, 2006

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QUINCY -- Lynn Margherio , founder and CEO of Cradles to Crayons in Quincy , hopes Deval Patrick's inaugural events will net her organization thousands of pairs of boots, shoes, and socks for children in low-income families who lack something warm to protect their feet this winter.

The group has asked those planning to attend the Worcester reception for the governor-elect on Jan. 3 and the inaugural ball in Boston on Jan. 4 to bring along a pair of new sneakers, shoes, boots, or socks for children up to 12 years old.

According to Margherio, at least 25,000 children in Massachusetts will be homeless at some point this year, and 400,000 more live in poor or low-income households. Cradles to Crayons distributes the goods it collects through social service organizations such as shelters, schools, hospitals, and family service centers.

The need for basic items is constant, she said last week. "About 70 percent of the orders we get are looking for basics like clothes, shoes, and socks."

Footwear immediately came to mind when she was approached by inaugural event planners, Margherio said. "When we thought about the kinds of things we might ask for, we thought of something small and things that are pretty accessible."

A business strategy consultant who formerly worked for the Clinton administration in Washington, Margherio founded Cradles to Crayons in 2002 . She now devotes herself to the operation full time. The nonprofit operates out of a 12,000-square-foot warehouse in Quincy and draws on the time, treasures, and talent of nearly 9,000 volunteers each year. Contributors range from 4 to 84 years old .

Photos of the thousands of volunteers line the walls of the warehouse. They hail from area high schools, local businesses, church groups, and civic organizations. Frequently whole families, searching for ways to make a difference, pitch in.

The various tasks at the warehouse are matched with the skills of the volunteers.

Cradles to Crayons, for instance, has a large collection of books it supplies to literacy programs and low-income families. "We have literacy experts among our volunteers who know what is age-appropriate," Margherio said. "A survey showed that 85 percent of low-income homes had fewer than 10 books. Some had none. It's no surprise when these children start kindergarten, they are behind their peers."

Work Inc. in Quincy, an organization that trains and places individuals with disabilities in jobs, regularly assigns clients to volunteer at Cradles to Crayons.

"It's a nice little synergistic thing," said James Cawley, a Work Inc. senior career development specialist. "You have individuals who are disabled and have been on the receiving end, who then have the chance to give back. It's a win-win all around."

Cawley said the assignment also offers Work Inc. clients the opportunity for socialization.

About a third of the volunteers at Cradles to Crayons are youngsters, and they fill a need as well. Margherio said a 10-year-old boy, for instance, is much more successful at putting a robot through its electronic paces than an adult would be.

"The kids can clean toys, test them, and put together arts and crafts packs," she said. "For the younger kids, we can find projects suitable to the age, like spritzing large toys or matching shoes."

Margherio and her staff are energetic recruiters, promoting the program throughout area cities and towns. Several communities have run drives for specific items, such as a recent "Jeans for Tweens" effort. Some even organize "Good-To-Go" drives, where volunteers inspect and sort the goods prior to bringing them to the warehouse. Youngsters hold birthday parties where all presents are donated to Cradles to Crayons.

One recent afternoon, Weymouth resident Sue Wardwell and her 13-year-old daughter, Alyssa, sorted, matched, and bagged infant clothes at the warehouse. Alyssa learned about the program at a recent presentation at Derby Academy in Hingham , where she attends school. When her birthday was celebrated in November, the seventh-grader donated all presents to Cradles to Crayons. She and her mother now plan to volunteer there weekly.

"It's fun working here," the teenager said.

While any agency in the state can apply to qualify for goods from the nonprofit, most lie within 45 minutes of the Quincy warehouse, since they must pick up the items they order.

"Working with agencies, we are able to reach more kids, and we know the kids receiving the items really need them," Margherio said.

She said all donated items must be new or appear new. "We only want things you would put on your own child," she said.

"What makes this work is community: people stepping up to make a difference," Margherio said. "We need three things -- stuff, time, and money -- and maybe enthusiasm as a fourth. We're lucky. There are so many people out there who want to give."

To learn more about Cradles to Crayons, visit its website, cradlestocrayons.org. Christine Wallgren can be reached at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .