The district’s elementary and middle schools all participated in the collection drive, according to event coordinator Craig Nichols. More than 630 sets of pajamas were collected this year, and the success of the program has led the district to set a goal of collecting 1,000 pairs of pajamas next year, Nichols informs.
Genevieve Piturro, founder/executive director, formed The Pajama Program in 2001. It is a not-for profit organization which was founded to help create a warm and nurturing environment for youngsters living under difficult circumstances, according to the organization’
The Pajama Program provides new pajamas and new books to children in need, many who are waiting and hoping to be adopted. Thousands of the children the organization serves live in group homes and shelters and are shuffled often between temporary living facilities.
"Many of [the children] have been abused or abandoned, and have never enjoyed the simple comfort of having a mother or father tuck them in at bedtime and read to them," according to the website.
Piturro shared that on Oct. 1, the organization pledged to raise one million new pairs of pajamas and one million new books by Dec. 31, 2015 through their One Million Good Nights Promise.
The Carter’s company and Scholastic Books have already "stepped up to the plate with a bang," Piturro said.
Cliffside Park schools collected new pajamas to "show students that there is value in doing a good deed," said Nichols. The schools did not incentivize the students with the allure of a pizza party or other reward for collecting the most pajamas. Rather, the lesson was meant to demonstrate that kindness and compassion are rewards in themselves.
The borough participated in the program through the Bergen County chapter of The Pajama Program.
According to School 4 teacher, Anita Ferrante, her school collected 234 pairs of new pajamas. The School 4 effort was spearheaded by teachers Beth Montemurro and Vicky Bucco.
