By Hadas Kuznits

CHESTERBROOK, Pa. (CBS) — A local pharmaceutical company is participating in its fifth annual donation drive to help the organization “Cradles to Crayons.”

Shire Pharmaceuticals’ annual drive is called the “Big Give,” and it helps provide children and teenagers with some basic needs.

“They’re obviously open all year round, but we’re getting into the winter season,” says Caroline West, a senior vice president of Shire.   “This is a time when families that may be in distress have greater needs, and so we time our drive with when ‘Cradles to Crayons’ needs things.”

And West says Cradles to Crayons partners with local shelters.

“Say a kid arrives at a shelter with their parents and it’s a nine-year-old girl,” West says.  “What she’ll get is a winter coat, school supplies, clothing that’s going to fit her, and some age-appropriate books.”

West encourages folks to go to http://www.shirebiggive.com for information about “drop-off sites which are all around the region — that’s new this year — as well as our main collection point, which is at Wilson Farm Park.”

Donations are being collected tonight until 8pm and tomorrow (Saturday) from 9am until 3pm.