Flat lay image of wooden blocks that spell out the word "school". There are also colored pencils surrounding the blocks. This image is the featured images for a blog post about Crayons To Classrooms.

Featured Charity: Crayons To Classrooms

Today I want to introduce you to Crayons to Classrooms because I believe that a focus on teachers should be a year-round effort.

Yes, most people typically do posts about classroom supplies or teacher appreciation at the beginning of the school year or during teacher appreciation week.

But handmade projects can be made any time (and sometimes anywhere.)

Plus, I have wanted to include more educator-focused organizations on Create To Donate.

So I was excited to be contacted by Crayons to Classrooms and learn how handmade can help them fulfill their mission.

Who Is Crayons To Classrooms?

Crayons to Classrooms is a nonprofit organization that serves at-risk students in the Greater Dayton area.

The organization came out of the recognized need for underserved students to get supplies they need and for teachers not to have to spend their own funds to buy those supplies.

So their simple but powerful mission is to, “secure and distribute school supplies at no cost to teachers of students in need.”

And, their stated values focus on the power of education, respect, and dignity.

How Do Teachers Access Supplies?

These values are evident in each touch point of Crayons to Classrooms – teachers, donors, and volunteers.

It starts with a very straightforward process to accessing supplies:

  1. Determine if your school is eligible. Crayons to Classroom has an easy-to-navigate chart that you can filter by county and school district. Take a look at who is eligible using this link.
  2. Arrive and check-in at Crayons to Classroom. (Make sure to bring a valid ID.)
  3. Make a shopping appointment using Crayons to Classroom’s teacher portal.
  4. Have fun shopping while being mindful of product limits.

Crayons to Classroom even goes so far as offering a chance to earn “extra credit” by volunteering in the shop.

This extra credit can then be used to benefit a teacher whose school isn’t yet certified for the program.

How Can I Support Crayons To Classrooms?

There are a variety of ways you can support Crayons to Classrooms.

In-person Volunteer Opportunities

If you’re local to the Dayton area, they would love help with any of the following:

  • Check-in Volunteer – Be the first point of contact for teachers checking in to shop and get them squared away.
  • Shopping Assistant – Help a teacher while they shop by selecting necessary items, bagging them, and checking them out.
  • Data Entry – This role is just as it sounds and you’ll enter data related to shopping and general office needs.
  • Classroom Solutions – Create products for teachers using die cut machines and assemble journals, among other activities.
  • Volunteer to shop – Earn a shopping trip for a teacher who doesn’t currently qualify for Crayons to Classrooms services.

Off-site Volunteer Opportunities

If you’re not local to the Dayton area, there are also some projects that you can do remotely and this is where the Create To Donate crew can make a difference.

These projects can be done on your own, but many are also great for groups of all kinds and all ages.

  • Pocket hugs – These tiny fabric hearts (and other shapes too) provide comfort and sensory input to help students focus. Here is a tutorial on how to make a pocket hug.
  • Journals – These small journals just need paper and a colorful cover (they provide the print file).
  • Color journals – These are small journals made from construction paper.
  • Marble mazes – This is a new off-site project that is also a great fabric scrap buster.
  • Handmade hats and mittens – Since Crayons to Classrooms serves kids of all ages, they need all shapes and sizes of hats and mittens. They will also accept items that you crochet, knit, or sew. Here are some ideas to get your started:
PINME image of stuffed felt heart finished with a blanket stitch.

Where Should I Send My Donations?

Once you finish making your donations, make sure to complete the off-site project submission form.

Completing and submitting this form not only helps Crayons to Classroom keep track of what has been donated, but you can also earn certified volunteer hours for the donation!

Please send donations to:

Crayons to Classrooms
Attn: Jaida Anderson
1750 Woodman Drive
Dayton, OH 45420

How Will You Help Crayons To Classrooms?

It’s not often that a nonprofit organization that serves teachers offers so many off-site project options.

I hope that you found at least one project that peaked your interest!

Since summer is right around the corner, any one of the projects is the perfect indoor activity and several of them also allow you to express your creativity.

So, how will you choose to help Crayons to Classrooms?

Leave a comment below and let me know!

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