Cradles to Crayons Launches Winter Clothing Drive

BOSTON — Winter weather is here across Massachusetts. While many children head out to sled or build a snowman with friends, others face clothing insecurity and lack access to coats, warm clothing layers, gloves, and boots to stay warm during these weather extremes.

Cradles to Crayons has launched a Gear Up for Winter initiative aiming to provide 50,000 coats to children living in low-income and homeless situations across Massachusetts so they can stay warm and feel prepared for the winter weather.

“As winter begins, one in three children in Massachusetts don’t have the winter clothing they need,” said Alicia Kabir, executive director of Cradles to Crayons Massachusetts. “As families juggle the costs of housing, heat, and food, their budgets are stretched to the limits. Cradles to Crayons Gear Up for Winter will help provide warm clothing like coats, boots, and hats so local families have one less expense to worry about.”

Thousands of families rely on Cradles to Crayons to keep their kids warm during New England’s harsh winter weather. This need includes clothing items, boots, hats, gloves, and coats. Cradles to Crayons has donation dropbox locations at these locations, accepting new or gently used clothing items: Old Navy, Holyoke Mall, 50 Holyoke St.; Old Navy, Mountain Farms, 335 Russell St., Hadley; and Lander Grinspoon Elementary School, 257 Prospect St., Northampton.