Cradles to Crayons & Jordan’s Furniture: Ready for School Program

BOSTON, M.A.— Starting today and running through August 18, all Jordan’s Furniture store locations will collect donations of new and gently used clothing and shoes for children from birth to twelve years old in support of Cradles to Crayons®’ Ready for School program. This marks the 13th year of Cradles to Crayons’ school preparedness program, which provides low-income and homeless children in Massachusetts with the essential back-to-school supplies and clothing needed to start the year prepared and excited to learn. The Cradles to Crayons/Jordan’s Furniture partnership, now in its eighth year, has supported more than 18,000 children to date and expects to pass the 20,000 mark this year.

“We are so proud to continue our partnership with Cradles to Crayons and to support their Ready for School program,” said Eliot Tatelman, Jordan’s President. “I remember my first days of school and all of the memories of each one. It is so important for every child to feel worthy. By working with the team at Cradles to Crayons, we hope to do our part in helping area children get ready for school and be prepared to learn. Through the generosity of our wonderful customers, we know that our donation drives have made an impact during the last five years. We hope for the same success this year.”

Cradles to Crayons was founded in 2002 with the mission of providing children from birth to age twelve with the clothes, toys, school supplies, shoes, and other essentials they need to thrive. The organization provides these items free of charge by working through a network of Service Partners including the Greater Boston Food Bank, Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Boston Public Schools, and others to distribute customized KidPacks containing a week’s worth of clothing and critical items. Cradles to Crayons is a trusted resource to families struggling with Clothing Insecurity, to the partners who serve those families, and to families, corporations, and individuals looking for ways to make tangible differences in their own communities. Ready for School will serve 75,000 children this year between June 1 and September 30.

“Jordan’s Furniture continues to be an invaluable supporter of our Ready for School initiative. They have helped to ensure that thousands of local children begin a new school year with the supplies they need to succeed and wearing clothes that give them a sense of confidence. We sincerely thank Jordan’s Furniture for their sustained support,” said Jenn Askjaer, Executive Director of Cradles to Crayons in Boston. “They not only expand awareness of our mission, they also provide convenient and creative ways for our community to give back in a meaningful way. We sincerely thank Jordan’s for their dedicated commitment to helping the children we serve.”

The two-month donation drive— through August 18—takes place at all store locations in Avon, MA; Reading, MA; Natick, MA; Nashua, NH; New Haven, CT; and Warwick, RI; along with the Jordan’s Distribution Center in East Taunton, MA and strives to provide every child with essentials of the highest quality. Accepted clothing donations (pants, shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, etc. and NEW pajamas, socks, and undergarments) should be like-new or new, with no rips, stains, or tears in Youth sizes 0 to 18/20 and Adult sizes Small and Medium. Shoe donations include sneakers, school shoes, and boots in sizes infant to adult 10.

For more information, visit www.jordans.com or www.cradlestocrayons.org/boston.