Front Desk Opportunity!

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Summary: The Front Desk Assistant will perform a variety of tasks depending on needs in the Cradles to Crayons office. This will include answering the door, helping to receive donations, and greeting volunteers.


Cradles to Crayons Mission
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, at school and at play. We supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities that have with communities that need.

Organization History and Model

Lynn Margherio founded Cradles to Crayons in early 2002 after noticing her nieces’ and nephews’ toys and clothes piled high in the playroom and closets at her sibling’s house around the holidays. They were in perfectly good condition, but were no longer being used, and she knew many more homes had the same situation. She wanted to find a way to connect families in need of quality clothing, toys, and equipment to families, schools and businesses that have resources and time to give.

Cradles to Crayons began in 2002 with a rented truck to collect donations and a small amount of donated office space to house and organize them. In 2004, Cradles to Crayons moved into its first 14,000 square foot Giving Factory warehouse in Quincy, MA. In 2006, the second Giving Factory opened its doors in Philadelphia. Now, our Chicago site is open!

In 2017, over 7,000 families, individuals, community groups, and companies served over 30,000 children in Chicagoland to sort, clean, and assemble donations for "KidPacks" to be delivered through our social-service partners. Through these meaningful, hands on volunteer opportunities, we aspire to set a foundation for lasting change.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities
As Front Desk Assistant you will be the first point of contact for Cradles to Crayons Chicago. Our Front Desk Assistant duties include offering administrative support across the organization. Front Desk Volunteers:

• Greet and welcome guests as soon as they arrive at the office.
• Direct visitors to the appropriate person and office.
• Help receive donations.
• Ensure entrance area is tidy and presentable, with all necessary stationery and material (e.g. pens, forms and brochures.)
• Commit to a regular weekly or bi-weekly volunteer schedule.
• Commit to a minimum of 6 months to the program.
• Possess a passion for the Cradles to Crayons mission.