A peaceful night's sleep sets the stage for a successful day ahead, and I firmly believe that quality sleep should be a universal right for every child. Regrettably, many children and their caregivers lack access to the necessary resources and support.
This is where the Pajama Program comes into play, making a substantial impact by providing vital materials, knowledge, and assistance to children and their caregivers. They achieve this through an extensive network of volunteers and partnerships with 4,000 community-based organizations across the United States, including Puerto Rico.
Since their establishment in 2001, the Pajama Program has delivered over 7.5 million "Good Nights for Good Days."
What truly warms my heart is witnessing the joy on the faces of children during their in-person Storytime Plus program, as well as the unwavering dedication of the Pajama Program's staff.
I wholeheartedly recommend supporting the Pajama Program and its mission. Please consider making a donation or join as a volunteer. Together, we can promote equitable access to healthy sleep, ensuring that all children can thrive.
Pajama Program is a great asset to our preschool programs and a great addition to our curriculum. The children love the books, learning new things, taking care of their bears and telling their parents their bear names. Our parents love the magnets as reminders for bedtime and the routine charts and stickers. The children really like to share their books and have classroom pajama parties. We have had many children and families over the years go through our program that has benefited from Pajama Program. The staff appreciate the skills listed in the program that matches the TSG school readiness skills - that’s a bonus. I have taught both classes in the classroom and to parents and they were equally successful and fun. Great conversations and feedback from parents and staff.
The Pajama Program has had an incredible impact to programs such as ours. The HOPE Parent Resource Center is a non-profit that specializes in working with young families. Our center along with several of our local home visiting educators have been trained by Ann from the Pajama Program to help parents understand the importance of Sleep Health.
They also offer new pajamas and books to the children we work with which helps promote literacy, a love for reading and a great night sleep. The training materials we received are extremely user friendly and offer educators all of the information they need to promote the importance of Sleep Routines. These valuable resources are not always available to our families, so the combination of education and supplies have been a great combination for success. A huge thank you goes out to the Pajama Program, Inc. for their commitment to supporting a comforting bedtime routine and healthy sleep for children to help them thrive.
The smile on Jamie's face as she reads to children says it all. She is a lifelong learner and her perspective on education, service, and sleep health is informed by her love of books.
This program has a wonderful initiative and promotes good sleep habits and literacy.
Children gain from the program's mission to provide pajamas and books to those less fortunate.
Pajama Program is an amazing non-profit organization dedicated to improving children's sleep health. Their mission and work impressed me greatly.
What I find remarkable about the Pajama Program is their understanding of how crucial sleep is for a child's overall well-being. They provide new pajamas and books to children in need, which not only helps them sleep better but also promotes literacy and a love for reading.
Moreover, the Pajama Program collaborates with organizations nationwide to offer sleep health education and support to families. This is essential because many families may not have the necessary resources to help their children establish healthy sleep habits.
In summary, the Pajama Program is an outstanding organization that is making a significant difference in children's lives. I highly recommend supporting their mission and helping them continue to positively impact children's sleep health across the country.
As an early childhood educator, I seek out organizations that truly make a difference in the lives of children, without layers of bureaucracy. The Pajama Program fits the bill. Books & pajamas offer children warmth & literacy. It is a simple idea that has blossomed into a very practical & joyful organization.
It is my pleasure to support this meritorious organization.
Nicki M. Calabrese, Ph.D.
I have been working at a daycare in Central New Jersey for many years and one of our favorite times of year is Christmas. The children are told about how some children don’t have a bedtime routine, pajamas to wear, and books to read. We only have 60 children at our daycare but our donation to Pajama Program is almost double the amount of new pjs and books. We are proud of the work that they do and our children are excited to be a part of it!
The Pajama Program gives hands on support, encouragement, and even books and pajamas to children who need a bit more positive intervention. The human touch and caring means so very much to a child who may not have the resources we would hope they have access to. The positivity and results of this organization have such a far reaching and domino effect! Please help fund the success of our children’s future.
Carole Y. Early childhood educator, 30 years
We love reading and children. Knowing how much children thrive in the stability of a routine really makes this the perfect charity.
I am a former volunteer with the Pajama Program, when I would commute from my home in Queens, NY to their location in NYC. My responsibility was to read with a child or a small group of children from NYC schools, and also to get to know the children a little and share my love of books with them. The surroundings were warm, inviting, and beautifully decorated with interesting and colorful materials, and the children's joyous participation told me how important this experience was for them.
I can no longer make the commute to NYC, but I continue to be a monthly donor to this program since I think it makes a vital contribution to the lives of the children in reaches.
My nonprofit (Volunteer New York!) works with Pajama Program to find volunteers for its many wonderful activities. It's such an incredible organization with an important mission: to make sure all children feel they have a consistent, safe, and healthy home life. We've recruited volunteers for the Pajama Program's reading parties before, and it always makes our volunteers so happy to know they're helping young kids. A special kudos to Jyothi Nair for her dedication and partnership! I love working with this organization and can't recommend them enough!
When I deliver new pajamas to agencies in need the excitement and appreciation is amazing. Some non-profits do so much with so little. The pajama program helps to provide a need like no other. It may seem like something so small to have a new book and pair of pajamas but when you see the excitement on a parent's face or a child is when I realize what a big difference I make. Thank you Pajama Program for providing an amazing experience for myself and so many others.
I love collecting and packing pajamas for this organization, knowing that these children have a new pair of pajamas for the night. I remember every Christmas I would get new pajmams for the Holiday Season. Every Day is Special in the eyes of a child and lets keep letting them know how special they Truly are.
I began my journey with the Pajama Program in an odd sort of way. I have my own pet/farm care business and was taking care of the pets belonging to the last Maine Chapter President of the Pajama Program. She was away on vacation and I went by her house to feed and care for her cats. When I got there, there were almost 40 boxes of books that UPS had just delivered to her home. She wasn't due back for a week and it was starting to rain. So I secured the cats upstairs and carried all the boxes inside. When she returned, I asked her about the books and pajamas and she told me all about the Pajama Program. I began to help by delivering pajamas and books to various shelters throughout Maine. The items were very much appreciated and at all the shelters staff would come out and unload boxes from my van. The best trip, though, was at a shelter in Portland that handles a lot of refugees as well as local people. There was a young girl, about 7, dancing and spinning around in the lobby all smiles. And when I looked at her, I was so pleased that she would have a brand new pair of pajamas and a book of her own. It's great to be cuddled up in new Pjs....and to me, a book is the most magical thing to own. Think about it, it opens so many worlds and encourages ready And very importantly if you are homeless, you can't own much, but a book you can carry with you, it can be yours. And Pajamas just make you feel good at night. I'm very pleased to be a part of this program. It's the little things that can make a real difference!
I became involved with the Maryland Chapter of the Pajama Program in 2011. As a volunteer, last year i collected 170 new pairs of PJ's for children in unfortunate situations on the Maryland Eastern Shore. Being apart of this program has deeply touched my heart. I still "melt" every single time i receive a new donation of PJ's or books for our babies. The thought that i am giving a child a glimpse of "Hope" warms my heart and makes me smile !! Here is a video i created of my last PJ Drive.. Enjoy !!
http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d6a6b334d444d7a4d445a384e6a59344e6a45324d6a6b3d0d0a&sb=1
I have been enthusiastically volunteering for the Pajama Program in Maryland and D.C. since 2009. We provide new pajamas and new books for children living in impoverished circumstances. Imagine, having a social worker drop you off at a shelter or hospital in the middle of the night. Some of these children arrive wearing only underwear and wrapped in a blanket. Others have had to flee with their mothers and siblings to a battered women's shelter. Young runaways show up on winter nights with only the clothes on their back. Families huddle sleeping in one room because that is the only room with heat. As I have visited organizations across the state, I have met so many caretakers with stories like these. They do so much with so few resources; their own hearts are lightened by being able to give the children what may be their first pair of new pajamas they ever remember wearing. This work is made possible only by the generosity of donors. Schoolchildren, scout troops, church groups, office workers, Mom's clubs, corporate sponsorships, and many other organizations bless us with new pajamas and books....in turn, we get them to where they are needed. I never forget that every pair of pajamas represents a child, and a book can be a source of solace and inspiration on a lonely night.
Wonderful organization that helps many children across the country. Every child deserves to good to bed in warm pajamas and a great book!
I volunteer with the Idaho Chapter of Pajama Program. We collect new pajamas and new books for Idaho kids in crisis or transition. We deliver donations that we collect directly to local organizations that serve children and families, including homeless shelters, domestic violence safe houses, and foster care programs. Pajamas and books help kids going through a stressful time re-establish a sense of routine, stay warm, and feel loved by their community. Volunteering with this group is a deeply rewarding experience!
The Akron Chapter of the National Pajama Program is one of the finest organizations we have worked with. Our agency has received such nice pajamas and books for children going into foster care for several years from this program. It's nearly undescribably the joy that comes to a child's face when they receive a pair of comfy pajamas and a book during a very traumatic time in their life. We wo very much appreciate the kindness and generosity of this group. They help us do better work!
As the director of community outreach for WJCS, the largest human services agency in Westchester County, NY, I have had the pleasure of working with the Pajama Program for the last 5 years. The program runs seamlessly and our children and their parents, most living below the federal poverty line, are thrilled and grateful to be the recipients of the pajamas and books.
i run a christmas program and have for 32 years. We not only give the children toys, stocking stuffers, gift cards, hats, mittens, warm winter clothing and books but now are able to give them warm winter pajamas. thanks to the pajama program for helping us to keep the spirit of christmas alive for the less fortunate children in our area. we continue to work with the parents to read to children and for children to read to their siblings. I cannot thank everyone involved in this program enough for all that they do to help organizations such as my own. We all need to work together to help the children of this country to know that there are caring and loving people out there willing to help. I hae been in human services for 32 years and know that all we do for these children builds a better world for tomorrow. I also believe that what you do comes back ten fold and children i services years ago, now volunteer for me. thank you again for helping us the help the future of tomorrow...warm jammies on a cold night are memorable for us all.... thank you again
I was searching online and saw advertisement about the Pajama Drive and was impressed with the program and decided to volunteer myself and school to participate. Crec Reggio Magnet School of the Arts were eager to get involoved. I provided contact information online and received a quick response with an coordinator in my area. Janet Estevez was very helpful. I am glad that I found this charity because their eagerness to help children. The organization that I was paired to was a wonderful organization and I hope to beable to have two pajama drives this school year.
i work for a non-profit agency. I support foster families that assist with children that are removed from their biological families. Children are place in foster or a relative care. Children come into care without personal belongings. I contact the Pajama Program and for the last several years they have provided pajamas for children in care. The children are excited for having their own pair of pajamas. We may take pajamas for granted. But, to see a child face light up because they are given a pair of pajamas and a book is a life memory stamped into your mind. The joy of seeing a child hug a pair of pajamas or want to put them on right away. Bring such joy to all. I am still involved with the Pajama Program and truly appreciate all of their help.
The Pajama Program is outstanding!!! They have provided over a thousand pairs of Brand New pajama's for both the foster children and needy children in SE Michigan. This program, and especially Deirdre Todd, has made sure every child had pajama's in their size, in the child's favorite color, and made every child feel special. I don't know what we would do without this program : ) Again, my deepest Thanks for all the work you do, all year long!! Pamela Traskos
I work for Crawford County, Ohio, Children Services. I was contacted by Pajama program. I was asked if this agency would like to be a recipiant of pajamas and books. I was very excited to become involved as the children that come to us, usually come to us with nothing. We had a group in our area that collected the pajamas. The transaction went very smooth. I was contacted again and received another package with pajamas and books. The caseworkers were very excited to be able to take the children pajamas and books. The children love it! We are very thankful to be a part of this program.
What a great organization! The Pajama Program makes it so easy to have a big impact in a child's life. Warm, clean pj's on a cold night or fresh, crisp pj's on a hot night--either way thousands of foster kids go to sleep knowing that people care and love them.
This is the most amazing program. The grouops gather new pajamas and books for disadvantaged children. They donate them to groups who are assisting disadvantaged children--homeless, financially poor areas, etc...Our church houses homeless families every Friday afternoon through Sunday night. It is an amazing feeling when you can give a child a brand new pair of pajamas and a book on their reading level. a light goes off in their faces. There are lots of tears and thank yous for the children and their parents who receive this amazing gift. It is a wonderul organization and they touch the hearts of the children. For a time, they enjoy the new pajamas and book and feel that things are better for them. I love helping them out and seeing the wonderful smiles. They serve all ages of children from newborns through young adults. Simply amazing! Karol Warden, Loveland, Ohio
The Logan County Family Treatment Court serves parents and their children referred from the Children's Services. The majority of the parents are single females. The Pajama Program has provided pajamas and books to over 60 of the children served in this program. The kids get so excited to get the PJ's and the parents share about the wonderful time they have exploring new books with their children. We are so grateful for the program in our rural community. We have not had anything like this before.
One of my most memorable memories with the Pajama Program happened to be during the Christmas holiday season. As Executive Director Of Operation Safety Net, The Scioto County Homeless Shelter, I often see needy children go without during the holiday's. When homeless households are obtaining and desperately trying to maintain occupancy (spending more than 80% of household income for rent is draining) , most times there is no residual money for extra considerations. Our Shelter tracks and does follow up on the many families that exit our shelter. We do the best we can in securing a gift item for as many of them as we possible can but because of the extreme poverty in our rural area of southern Ohio, we seldom have enough items to meet the needs. The Pajama program contacted us and sent us a book and a pair of pajamas that we could give to each child housed in our shelter, and beyond that...we were able to bless many of the children who recently exited the shelter. Most people would think that a book and a new pair of pajams is nothing....but to a child in crisis who has litterally nothing to call their own....it means everything!!!!!! It brings smiles when they put on their new pj's. The books are so amazing....one child that stands out kept asking any and everyone to read his book to him....that was special to see because his parents could not read or write....one book gave the chils a hunger for reading and learning. Although the child is young, he is now on his way to learning how to read because he recieved a book. We have indeed been blessed to have been beneficiaries of this awesome program!!!!!! Sincerely, Maureen Cadogan
For years the Pajama Program has donated hundreds of pajamas and books to the children of Amethyst. This is truly a life-changing experience for these children and their mothers, who cannot afford to purchase pajamas themselves.
The women of Amethyst are homeless at the point of entry and most of them only have the clothes they are wearing. In order to help the women focus on their recovery Amethyst provides them with safe, sober housing, clothing, furniture and all of their physical needs. We could not do this without the support of caring community organizations like the Pajama Program. This past Christmas, every child at Amethyst had a new pair of pajamas!! That might not seem like a lot to some, but to the families here at Amethyst it means the world!!!
Pajama Project is making a HUGE difference this summer for the children served by Lucas County Children Services. Many of them have never had a book of their own, and now our caseworkers can give them their very own books to read over the summer. The pajamas also are a huge help, as many of our clients lack resources to purchase them. We really appreciate all that the Pajama Project has done for LCCS families!
I have been able to both help read to the children and help pack pajamas and books. I feel that Pajama Program is providing a wonderful service to children in need need and am happy to have volunteered and will continue to volunteer every chance that I get.
Being there during a reading party, it was easy to see how meaningful it was for the children to receive brand new books and brand new pajamas. I personally believe in this program and hope that it continues to grow and make a difference in as many children's lives as possible.
I organize my office's volunteer activities, and this organization came to our attention last year through a well known bar association. I have organized readings that have been attended by lawyers in my office, and every volunteer has raved about this program. The Pajama Program provides an extraordinary service for children whose lives are so difficult. It reminds us that only a few hours of our time can touch these children's lives -- and of course we all wish we could do more. The program is extremely well organized, and the staff is sensitive to the needs of the children and the volunteers.
For four years I have volunteered at the Pajama Program, working beside
the dedicated staff and other volunteers, opening the many boxes of pjs and books that are donated and then having the pleasure of seeing them
sent to the thousands of children in need around the country. I have also
participated in the reading parties for local children. To see their faces
light up as they hug their new pjs and books is a "natural high" that I
will never forget. Keep up the great worki!!
Gloria Russell
This is a truly great program from beginning to end. Everyone involved genuinely cares about the children who participate. And the children...they look forward to everything from reading the books to the presentation of a brand new pair of pjs. As a volunteer, I feel totally blessed to be a part of such a wonderful organization. By the end of the session, you feel totally connected to the children. I wish I could donate more of my time to this worthwhile cause!!! Kudos to all !!!
Pajama Program does good work and does it well. As a volunteer, I've had the opportunity to work with the children, and I've seen how they light up during the story reading as well as when they receive new pajamas. As a general helper, I've worked with the dedicated staff. They are well organized, do an amazing amount with their resources and are great (and a great deal of fun) to work with.
As a volunteer with the Pajama Program I have realized how much effort goes into this program. I volunteer as a reader and sorter and packer of donations. It is so wonderful to be involved with people who really care about children's well being.
The Pajama Program is run by loving people who are passionate about helping children. Participating in their reading party was one of the most joyous and rewarding volunteer experiences I've ever had! They do wonderful, important work to let children know someone cares about them.
The Pajama Program is a wonderful organization to work with as a volunteer. Everything we need in the way of resources we need to conduct our drives is provided either on the web site or through personal contact with the New York office. The personal satisfaction level is high because we get to see first-hand how the gifts of pajamas and books impact the children and families we serve. I love being part of this effort and plan to make it a life-time part of my volunteer service.
II have volunteered with the Pajama Program for the last 3 years and have loved it! My husband and I were in the adoption process when I first became involved with this organization because I wanted a way to help children in need while waiting to adopt. I get thank you notes all the time from various organizations we donated items to and feel that we are really making a difference. Donating new pajamas and books seems so simple and not like a huge thing, but I have seen for myself that it is a huge thing.
The Pajama Program is a wonderful organization providing those underprivileged and under-appreciated children who are in need of TLP (Love, Tenderness, and Pajamas). The Kentucky's chapter has brought our state awareness on an issue that wasn't served before.
Thanks PP for all your help and support in our community.
candice 04/21/2011
John - do you advise people in the Kentucky Chapter on fundraising or do you advise other organizations?