Earlier this year as I inched along the slow rush hour crawl on the ramp to I-676 I caught a glimpse of a scrolling message on the PECO building. It was a call for donations for an organization called Cradles to Crayons. They were in need of winter gear for kids. As I sat warm in my car, winter coat wrapped around me, I knew we had found our charitable initiative for Q1.

Our team at s2s engages in at least one charitable initiative each quarter of the year. Over the years we have done a variety of things -- Spring clean-up at CFET in Camden, dinner preparation and serving at the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, annual holiday toy collection for Toys for Tots, just to name a few. We believe giving back is a necessity and it is something we truly enjoy doing.

We have certain charities that are regulars on the list and we also add new ones as we become aware of a need. Kids not having enough warm clothes is a need that requires attention and our team jumped all over it, shopping for everything from coats to shoes to underwear to socks to backpacks to baby carriers. We ended up collecting four full boxes worth of goods.

We wish to thank Cradles to Crayons for the amazing work you do guided by your mission to provide children from birth through age 12 with the everyday essentials they need to thrive - at home, at school, and at play. It is because of organizations like yours that we can be hopeful of your vision of a future free of childhood poverty.