From AAPSNews Service
The Logan Elementary School community came out in force with its first “Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive,” bringing in 134 pairs of new pajamas that were each paired with a children’s book and donated to the Community Action Network.
The best part: Students and staff got to come to school in their favorite pajamas.
Some families and staff donated pajamas, while others donated money that was used to purchase the new pajamas. The program was done in conjunction with Scholastic Book Clubs and the nonprofit Pajama Program.
This is the first time the Pajama Program has come to the Ann Arbor Public Schools, said Logan Principal Terra Webster. “It’s so nice that the pajamas are staying here – in our community.”
Community Action Network was founded to address the specific needs of the neighborhoods located in the Southeast section of Ann Arbor and focuses on advocating for the community, economic development, community improvement and providing services for families, youth, and seniors.
Second-grade teacher Kristi Krile read bedtime stories to Logan students as part of the event and the school’s PTSO provided milk and cookies.
Krile said she found the Scholastic program when she placed her book order a month before; the company said it would pair a new book with a new pair of donated pajamas, and she challenged the school to do just that.
Deidre Todd is the Michigan Chapter president of the Pajama Program who was on hand to accept the pajama donation. She told the story of the founder of the nonprofit, who was moved to take action when she visited a homeless shelter to read to children and took some pajamas on her next visit.
“One little girl didn’t know what pajamas were. They were a luxury item,” Todd told Logan students. “So she started the Pajama Program. What started out as a small dream for her has grown.”
The goal of Scholastic Book Clubs is to provide 25,000 children in need new pajamas and books this year. Webster said “The Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive” would become an annual schoolwide event for the Logan community.
