Great charity with great values and mission. I came here to volunteer and Kayla, the head volunteer coordinator, and you can tell, enjoyed what she did. In fact, all the staff we encountered were nice and friendly -- Brenda and Janice were über cool. They were thorough with their mission statement, what Cradles to Crayons stood for, and what the goal of today's efforts were all about.
As for the place, this place is relatively new; they opened this location just a year ago, moving from the Loop. The warehouse was well laid out and there was plenty of parking. The warehouse had designated areas for all the donations they receive. Overall, the layoff was well organized and the place wasn't overwhelming (think of a Marshall's clothing rack.... it's not).
I came on a day where there was a large group of ~40 or so from a company. Must have been a corporate event. The atmosphere was energectic and fun. They have music on while we did all sorts of tasks, from sorting, cleaning shoes, or folding gently-used clothes. All the process was well streamlined and it felt good being able to make a potential difference for kids.
In the end, our efforts helped 132 kids and the designated 2-hrs spent went by quick.
BATHROOM REVIEW: Located near the back of the place, and clearly labeled, the bathrooms were super clean. There was one urinal and a couple of stalls. Two sinks await for your good hygiene habits, after you using the toilets. Sit or squat? Sit! read more