It’s that time of year when schools send out shopping lists from teachers, and children and teens suddenly want an entirely new wardrobe: Back-To-School. Unfortunately, while many parents and children are purchasing new supplies and clothes, there are families lacking basic necessities. To help ease the worries of local families, Voorhees Town Center is joining Cradles to Crayons’ Ready for School Program, a campaign that provides Camden County children with the essential items they need to go to school, stay in school and succeed in the classroom.
Shoppers that donate new and gently used children’s clothing, shoes, new socks and underwear, and arts, crafts and school supplies will be entered to win a $500 shopping spree to The Children’s Place. Items will be accepted from Aug. 6 to Sept. 12 at the customer service desk in the mall management office, and the drawing for the shopping spree will be held Sept. 13.
Donations can also be brought to the Aug. 6 and Sept. 3 Kids’ Klubs at Voorhees Town Center. These special Kids’ Klub programs will feature giveaways, games, crafts and playtime with the Children’s Discovery Museum.
In 2002, Cradles to Crayons was founded with the mission of providing children from birth to age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive — at home, at school and at play. The organization supplies items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities that have with communities that need. For more information, visit www.cradlestocrayons.org.
Voorhees Town Center hosts the “Ready for School” campaign as part of PREIT Cares, Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust’s springboard for community awareness and charitable giving. The program is an umbrella, which supports five pillars of community interest: arts, education, healthcare, social responsibility and sustainability. As central gathering places in their communities, PREIT malls serve as ideal venues for raising awareness of important and timely causes and organizations. PREIT encourages mall management teams to be active respondents to these issues in a way that is meaningful for the communities they serve.