Special Report: Cradles To Crayons

This is the type of delivery that can change a child's life forever. Volunteers from Cradles to Crayons bring a bundle of books to children at a daycare for low-income families.

These kids get so much enjoyment from the books. For some kids, the books that they take home are the only ones in their collection.

"A lot of times teachers buy books for the classroom and it gets expensive," Kelly Desaulniers said.

Taking the burden off of charitable organizations and getting the essentials to homeless and low-income kids is the reason behind Cradles to Crayons.

The heart of the organization is a giant warehouse in Quincy filled with donated cribs, toys, and clothes.

"I've been overwhelmed how quickly the concept has taken over in Massachusetts," founder of Cradles to Crayons, Lynn Margherio, said.

Margherio founded the organization after seeing the endless toys and clothing her nieces and nephews accumulated.

"I thought wouldn't it be great to share some of this with homeless and low-income children," Margherio said.

Once the donations are sorted they are shipped to 200 different organizations that have families waiting desperately for a crib, car seat, toys or clothes.

Margherio wanted to offer help to other organizations so she could reach the most kids.

One bundle is through the Department of Public Help and will end up in the hands of 3-year-old Damian.

Instead of tossing out her kids used bikes or clothes, Sherri Carlson makes monthly trips to Cradles to Crayons.

She not only donates, but has donation drives in her hometown,

"It's such a small thing for me to do, put an ad in the paper. One of my drives helped 500 families," Carlson said.

In all 16,000 children have received help from Cradles to Crayons.

In Massachusetts, 400,000 kids are in low-income families and the volunteers here are determined to keep up.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)