Emily Skopov had no idea a family dinner would change her life and the lives of millions of underprivileged children . “ On the night of my son ’ s birthday in August 2011 , at our local Red Robin — one of his favorite restaurants — we had given him his first electronic handheld game as a birthday gift , and let him bring it to dinner ,” she says .
Consequently , this was the first time her son didn ’ t use the crayons that came with the kids menu . “ When I tried to give the crayons back to the waiter , he told me they don ’ t take crayons back once they ’ ve been set on a customer ’ s table — regardless of whether they ’ ve been used ,” says Skopov . “ I have several public school teachers in my family and have worked or lived in or near areas of poverty in New York and California . I knew there were countless children who couldn ’ t afford crayons for both their own creative or recreational use , or as part of their academic pursuits .
“ Most people don ’ t think about it , but crayons are actually a required school supply beginning in preschool through elementary and occasionally middle school ,” she continues . “ There are children who cannot complete school assignments and homework because they don ’ t have crayons .”
Skopov spoke to Red Robin ’ s manager that evening , and asked him if he ’ d be willing to start setting aside the crayons — rather than throwing them in the trash . He agreed and even offered to call other area Red Robin managers to participate .
And so , No Crayon Left Behind ( NCLB ) was born . The 501 ( c )( 3 ) nonprofit organization sorts through the crayons to remove those that are damaged or broken . The brand-new or like-new crayons are sorted by color and put into small bundles . Those that are in poor condition are melted down in molds and formed into brand-new crayons .
“ We currently receive hundreds of thousands of crayons each year , and rely on a steady stream of volunteers to sort and bundle the crayons .” notes Skopov . “ We also use volunteers to assist with melting down and making new crayons .”
Initially , as the founder ( now Executive Director ) of NCLB , she began by distributing the crayons to individual facilities and organizations , including daycares in economically struggling areas , homeless shelters , shelters for abused women and children , or after-school programs for children struggling with poverty . Many of the crayons went to other nonprofits working with children and families in poverty .
“ As my list of donor restaurants grew , I sought larger ways to distribute ,” says Skopov . She found The Education Partnership , which provides free school supplies to a growing list of schools in the region . “ We ’ ve donated hundreds of thousands of crayons to The Education Partnership over the years , which then go to our public schools in the most economically depressed communities .”
NCLB also distributes throughout the country via a partnership with World Vision , which provides them to several domestic distribution sites around the U . S ., and it has recently formed a partnership
with Brother ’ s Brother , which will be sending the crayons overseas . NCLB has already sent hundreds of thousands of crayons to countries on every continent , fielding requests from volunteers of numerous organizations who work in those locations . To date , Peace Corps Morocco has been the greatest overseas recipient , using crayons to educate men , women and children in remote villages throughout the region .
“ Almost anyone can volunteer ,” notes Skopov . “ We ’ ve had folks as young as age 3 , and as old as 90 .”
The staff and volunteers of NCLB have diverted close to two million nonbiodegradable crayons away from landfills , instead distributing them to individuals and groups who will cherish them . “ Our work shows how easy it is to make a big impact on people ’ s lives , as well as the environment ,” says Skopov .
NCLB ’ s belief in the critical importance of art in the development of a child is also at the heart of its mission . “ A crayon is often the first means by which a child experiences the incredibly powerful practice of self-expression and creative expression ,” explains Skopov . “ Crayons are often used in the preverbal stage , and children who still cannot speak are able to communicate something using a simple crayon . Using a crayon , a child brings something tangible into the world that wasn ’ t there before , and that ’ s hugely empowering . Artistic expression at a young age also helps a child access their own imagination , which is a critical part of cognitive development .”
She adds , “ Ensuring that children have the most basic supplies assists in providing them the tools they need to be successful in school and alleviates a major source of stress .”
Sewickley Daisy Girls volunteer with No Crayon Left Behind .
NCLB doesn ’ t discriminate , and donates to any organization that serves underprivileged children and organizations that are struggling with budgetary and financial challenges .
“ Sewickley is a fantastic community that values art , culture and philanthropy , so naturally it ’ s the perfect location for NCLB ,” says Skopov . “ The community also believes in the importance of public service and the role of nonprofits . It ’ s been extremely welcoming .”
She plans on continuing NCLB ’ s growth to become a regional organization , then national . While its reach is already global , the intention is to expand the donor base to all 50 states and create numerous distribution hubs . “ We want people to understand that a simple crayon holds tremendous power ,” says Skopov . “ When you see adults in other countries use a crayon for the first time , or a child make their very first drawing with a crayon , no further explanation is needed — the significance of those experiences are crystal clear .”
For more information about No Crayon Left Behind , visit nocrayonleftbehind . org . n
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