Johanna Kang

Interact club placed a collection bin near the Main Entrance, encouraging students to participate in the clothing drive.

From January 12 to January 30, Interact Club hosted a Cradles to Crayons winter clothing drive, encouraging East students and staff to donate new or gently used clothes. The project was created with the main goal of providing children living in low-income and homeless situations with the essential items they need to thrive at home, school, and play throughout the cold winter season. 

Cradles to Crayons is a nationwide non-profit organization that provides free essential items to children living in difficult situations. This organization has chapters in several major cities, including Philadelphia. 

East freshman and Cradles to Crayons ambassador Flynn Kohut (‘29) originally brought the idea to East Interact club advisor Ms.Barr, hoping to start a Cradles to Crayons club at East. However, considering the similarities between this organization and the Interact club, she suggested that Kohut initiate a drive within the club instead, ensuring that the organization’s goals were still being shared with the East community.

Beginning in October 2025, members met regularly during lunch and study halls to create the donation box and prepare in advance of the January clothing drive.

“We are so grateful that in Cherry Hill East, many of us have access to school supplies and winter clothing,” said Interact club president Melanie Pedersen (‘27). She hopes to utilize East’s access to resources to give back to those who cannot afford it. 

Once the drive concludes, the donations will be transferred to The Giving Factory, a volunteer-powered warehouse and operations center for Cradles to Crayons. From there,  the items are sorted, inspected, and packaged into personalized care packages for each child’s needs. Finally, packages will be distributed to the children through a network of service partners such as schools and shelters. 

“There are many students in the United States who are the same age as us [with] the same passion and eagerness to learn, yet due to their circumstances, they are unable to get the education they want,” said Pederson. 

With its partnership with Cradles to Crayons, East hopes to bring more attention to this cause and encourage students to donate not just during this drive, but also on their own in the future. 

“It doesn’t take much… [and] doing good for others makes me feel good,” said Barr.