Christian’s Crayons – Making the World Vibrant, One Crayon at a Time

“One small seed can make a big change.” For one local Pennsylvania family, what started as a fundraiser turned into a business fostering independence, perseverance, and valuable work experience for their son with Autism.

At the age of 10. Christian runs the business “Christian’s Crayons” with his mother, Jennifer. They fulfill orders from all over the country, show “how-to” videos on social media, and attend local craft fairs to sell and advertise their crayons. However, Christian’s Crayons started due to the Ochs family wanting to give back to their favorite local non-profit. They had no idea what was in store for their fundraising business!

During Valentine’s Day of 2023, Jenn decided that she wanted to fundraise for a non-profit close to her heart, SAFE Inc. (Supporting Autism Families Everywhere). She knew that Christian could help her use pieces of used crayons to melt down in silicon molds to make large heart shaped crayons to sell. She reached out to her local school district and had immense support from the superintendent who spread the word on Jenn’s plan. “I was expecting a few orders and maybe raising $50. We ended up raising $2,003!” The orders from the school district came pouring in. Christian and Jenn were using one silicon mold to make six heart shaped crayons at a time! Thanks to donations from the community, Christian and Jenn were able to fulfill the orders and give back to the community they love.

Jenn noticed that Christian’s confidence grew significantly during this fundraiser. She envisioned creating a business where Christian could work and grow, and that business is now in the process of becoming an LLC. “Christian is learning life skills because we want him to be as independent as possible.” Jenn sees the value in practicing fine motor skills, kitchen safety (as they use an oven for the melting process), and completing tasks from start to finish. For years, Jenn contemplated various ideas for businesses she could create in order to have Christian work in a supportive environment. Never did she think that one fundraiser would give her the idea for the  successful business that Christian’s Crayons has become.

Christian and Jenn still rely on donations of broken and used crayons to help them fulfill the amount of orders coming through email and social media. All of the proceeds from these orders now go to Christian. He opened a bank account and is now saving up the money made from his dedicated work. As a special needs parent, Jenn knows that preparation is key to ensuring independence in adulthood. Jenn, and the Ochs family, are inspired as they see the support of their community and the dedicated hard work of their son.

I ordered crayons from Christian’s Crayons for my own children. My son was amazed that someone made the intricate shapes. Christian is showing the nuerodiverse community that there are no limits to what can be achieved. Christian and Jenn are helping change how the world sees Autism and making it brighter, one crayon at a time.

Follow Christian’s Crayons on Instagram to see what options are available for order. Consider donating your used and broken crayons to help grow Christian’s business. Contact me with questions on how to get your donations to Jenn at most.au.some.journey@gmail.com.