Meet the Team Behind: The Crayon Initiative

The Crayon Initiative is turning discarded crayons into colorful opportunities for children in hospitals. By collecting unwanted crayons, recycling them, and transforming them into new art supplies, the nonprofit is reducing waste while bringing creativity and joy to young patients. Learn more about their work here!

Can you tell me about the inspiration behind The Crayon Initiative?

The idea for The Crayon Initiative began when our founder was out to dinner with his family and noticed the crayons his children were using at the restaurant. He wondered what happened to those crayons after customers left and discovered that many were simply thrown away. Because crayons aren't biodegradable, they can remain in landfills indefinitely. Bryan saw an opportunity to give these discarded crayons a second life while making a difference for children in need. Combining his background in manufacturing with his passion for creativity, he developed a process to recycle old crayons into new ones for hospitalized children.

How does your program work? 

We collect unwanted crayons from restaurants, schools, businesses, and individuals across the country. Once collected, the crayons are sorted, melted down, and remanufactured into brand new crayons. Our crayons are specially designed for children in hospitals, with a larger, triangular shape that makes them easier to grip and prevents them from rolling off hospital trays. We then distribute them free of charge to children's hospitals, where patients can use them for art activities, creative expression, and play. We've helped divert hundreds of thousands of pounds of unwanted crayons from landfills while providing free art supplies to pediatric patients nationwide. 

Why is creative expression so important for children in hospitals?

Hospital stays can be frightening and overwhelming for children, especially when so much of their daily lives is outside their control. Something as simple as coloring gives them an opportunity to make their own choices, express their emotions, and enjoy a sense of normalcy. Art can also help reduce stress and anxiety, offering a welcome distraction from medical procedures and treatments. Our goal is to remind children that, even in a hospital, they deserve opportunities to play, imagine, and simply be kids.

How can people get involved and support your mission?

There are so many ways to help! Individuals, schools, and businesses can organize crayon collection drives or donate their unwanted crayons. Volunteers can also support our recycling and packaging efforts, while financial contributions help cover the costs of transforming old crayons into new ones and delivering them to hospitals. It costs approximately $1.46 to provide one child with a pack of recycled crayons. Even the smallest contribution can help us bring a little more color and happiness into a child's life.