Pajama Program. Help Kids Sleep.

By Marilyn Machlowitz

I miss reading to a sleepy preschooler but I don’t have any grandchildren yet. To find other willing listeners, I’ve completed a volunteer application for Pajama Program.

What is Pajama Program?

Pajama Program is a national nonprofit with local programming in New York, Atlanta and Detroit. Pajama Program leverages relationships with volunteers and 4,000 community-based organizations to ensure kids have good nights which lead to good days.

Low family income, family instability and housing insecurity can all affect bedtime routines and make getting a good night’s sleep difficult.

Since its founding in 2001, Pajama Program has provided eight million pajamas and three million books to children facing challenges. Corporate partnerships help Pajama Program. Carter’s is the lead supplier of pjs and Scholastic is the lead supplier of books.

The program has expanded to offer healthy sleep education. For Head Start programs and other government-supported preschools, Pajama Program offers education to students and their parents and caregivers about healthy sleep.

What do Volunteers Do?

When children arrive at centers in New York, Atlanta or Detroit, they learn about healthy sleep and hear a story read by volunteers. They leave with brand new pjs and books

Volunteers frequently learn about Pajama Program by chance and find they love seeing the kids faces light up when they receive new pajamas and books.

Volunteers may assist in several other ways such as folding, sorting and organizing pajamas and books. Volunteers are also needed to become chapter presidents across the United States to extend the impact of Pajama Program.

Prospective volunteers may learn more, as well as complete and submit an application, here.

Marilyn Machlowitz is an expert on executive search and a (not so) novice volunteer. She enjoys finding purposeful options for Lustre ladies.