Pre-K Classes Bring Comfort and Joy to Orphans

After a tough day of playing, coloring and practicing their colors and shapes, Pre-K students look forward to pulling on a pair of cozy pajamas, sporting their favorite cartoon character ofcourse, and slipping under their covers to hear a bedtime story.

Well, when the Pre-K students at in Malverne learned that there are boys and girls in the world just like them who do not get to enjoy this nighttime ritual, they were eager to come to their rescue.

Together, the two classes collected 46 pairs of new pajamas for The Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive sponsored by Scholastic, which sends the sleepwear to a non-profit organization called Pajama Program. The charity provides pajamas and books to children who live in group homes, shelters, foster care, and orphanages. Scholastic, the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and educational materials, donates a book to each child that receives a pair of pajamas through this collection drive.

"It just seemed like something the children could relate to since they all wear pajamas and read books," said Maria O'Toole, who teaches one of the two Pre-K classes.

She added that some of her students even wanted to bring their teddy bears into class to give them away to the needy children.

Last year, students across the country donated 18,000 new pairs of pajamas and books to the Pajama Program, prompting Scholastic to set a goal of 25,000 for this year's drive. So far, they have collected 35,268. Since its inception in 2000, Pajama Program has delivered 880,000 new pajamas and books to kids across the country.

"For so many needy and abused children, winter means endless cold and scary nights," explains Pajama Program founder Genevieve Piturro. "The winter season is a particularly critical time when these children are most vulnerable to serious colds and illnesses. Warm, clean pajamas help to protect them against night chills and harmful conditions. Emotionally pajamas are a hug for children who feel lost and alone."

Elaine Fitzgerald, who teaches the other Pre-K class, saw the drive as a great way to teach her students about the meaning of the holiday season.

"We wanted to help the children share in the joy of Christmas by giving to others," she said.

Click here to learn more about The Great Bedtime Story Drive and the Pajama Program.