Student members of the Social Justice Club at Pioneer Charter School of Science in Everett volunteered at Cradles to Crayons in Newton recently. Cradles to Crayons is an organization that collects and distributes clothing, toys, and school supplies to kids in need.
According to their website, 1 in 3 children in Massachusetts is at risk of experiencing clothing insecurity. Cradles to Crayons works with families, individuals, community groups, and companies to serve over 145,000 children in Massachusetts every year.
Pioneer Charter students Woodjana Larose, Marwa Yeznasni, Aicha Bellakdar, Sara Rivera Lemus, Maria Souza, Ashley Merino, and Tatiana Duarte participated in this volunteer opportunity. Students sorted through incoming donations to get rid of broken items or items that did not meet Cradle to Crayons’ guidelines and standards. Once these were separated, students worked to sort clothing by size and category.
The Social Justice Club members also held a school-wide fundraiser, and raised over $600 for the organization. The money raised allowed the club to purchase jackets from the Cradles to Crayons Amazon Wish List. Clubs like the Social Justice Club are part of the school’s mission to balance a rigorous academic curriculum with a strong foundation in the humanities and a character education program to develop students into responsible citizens who are engaged in their communities