FamilyAid Nationally Recognized for Pandemic Response
Boston, MA – FamilyAid Boston was recently named the recipient of the 2021 Phyllis Yale Impact Award by Cradles to Crayons, a national organization focused on providing children in homeless or low-income situations with the essential items they need to thrive. Initially named in honor of Phyllis Yale, a catalyst to Cradles to Crayons’ growth and development for more than a decade, the award includes a $10,000 grant to support the work of other organizations that exemplify Cradles to Crayons’ mission and vision. The award has been renamed to the “Chairman’s Council Impact Award.”
Cradles to Crayons selected FamilyAid for their goal to fund four facilities staff who would support pickups and distributions of Cradles to Crayons’ items, freeing up FamilyAid resources and enabling their comprehensive response to the pandemic’s impact on homeless children and parents. With support from Cradles to Crayons and several philanthropies, FamilyAid developed a pandemic-related emergency food, supply, and financial assistance program that now serves 1,600 children and parents daily.
Having turned its corporate office into a warehouse and distribution center, the agency has been packaging and delivering door-to-door more than 7 tons of fresh food and supplies to Greater Boston families each week.
A 32-foot refrigerated trailer now sits in the FamilyAid parking lot for produce, and cash assistance is provided to help struggling families keep up on rent and utility bills.
To date, FamilyAid has raised $3.2 million dollars for these critical services and is working to raise funds to continue the program throughout the summer.
“We selected FamilyAid for their increased focus on distributing Cradles to Crayons essentials to families throughout the pandemic—an integral part of their innovative approach to meet families’ increased food, supply, and financial needs,” says Lynn Margherio, Founder and CEO of Cradles to Crayons. “The Impact Award will allow FamilyAid to free up organizational capacity, allowing our collaboration to grow in the year ahead. Service Partners are an essential part of what we do at Cradles to Crayons, and we’re delighted to highlight their incredible work”.
In addition to clothing and toiletries, Cradles to Crayons has also donated 300,000 diapers to FamilyAid clients since the pandemic began. The two organizations will continue to collaborate to ensure that children have the clothes, diapers, and school supplies they need to thrive.
Please visit the FamilyAid Boston and Cradles to Crayons websites to learn more about their missions and pandemic responses.
