Cradles to crayons drive underway

  • Published
  • By Jennifer Green-Lanchoney
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  As colder temperatures move into the Northeast, it may be hard to imagine that some children will go without proper clothing or younger children without diapers during winter months.

Seeing a need to help the community by collecting diapers, Staff Sgt. Paine Belin, a 66th Medical Squadron pharmacy technician, is leading a local drive, which runs through Dec. 1, for a non-profit organization called Cradles to Crayons.

According to their website, Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12 living in homeless or low-income situations with the essential items they need to thrive at home, school and at play.

"Along with collecting as many diapers as we can, we want to bring awareness that there are low income families close by that need help providing for their children," said Belin.

While recently volunteering for the local organization, Belin noticed she was not able to fill certain requests.

"There were a few babies I was not able to pack diapers for because the diapers were unavailable," Belin said.  "I was told that they are always out of size four diapers. I know the struggle of affording diapers, having two children of my own; I'm sure many can relate."

Anyone interested in making a donation of diapers can visit drop off locations around base including the Exchange lobby, building 1605 room 104, the Honor Guard building 1210, building 1614 and the working dog building.

To learn more about Cradles to Crayons or to donate to their ongoing campaign, visit their website at http://www.cradlestocrayons.org.

For more information on the drive at Hanscom, contact Staff Sgt. Belin at 781-225-6173 or paige.belin@us.af.mil.