This year the Club once again participated in the "Stuff-A-Bus" Pajama Program in collaboration with the Yonkers Chamber and other organizations. The drive ended on 14 November with the donation of the collection of Pajamas and books after a School Bus made the rounds collecting garments and arrived at the Yonkers Montessori Academy.Present at the brief ceremony were Mayor Spano, Schools Superintendent Dr. Edwin Quezada, Yonkers Chamber of Commerce Director of Marketing Jeanne Martinelli, Club President Alix Schnee, Past President Mahbub Ahmad and Club Rotary Foundation Chair Bina Ahmad, along with representatives of various organizations which have collected donations of pajamas and books.
The Pajama Program provides new pajamas and new books to children in need locally and nationwide, many of whom are waiting to be adopted. These children live in group homes, shelters and temporary housing facilities and are shuffled often from one place to another. Many of them have been abandoned, abused or neglected. Most of these children have never enjoyed the simple comfort of having a parent tuck them in at bedtime with warm, clean pajamas and a bedtime story. Some of the children are living with their families below the poverty level, in desperate need of food, clothing and shelter. These two simple gifts of pajamas and books let the children know that someone cares - sometimes these are the only new things they have ever received.
Who are these children who receive the Pajamas and Books?
- Children in need ranging from newborn to age 18.
- Children who are living 200% below the poverty level.
- Children of teenage pregnancies with parents who struggle to take care of them.
- Children who are homeless and living in shelters.
- Children who come to the shelter without any clothing or belongings.
- Children in foster care.
- Children who are youth of incarcerated parents.
- Children who have been physically or emotionally abused and neglected.
- Children who are emotionally traumatized.
- Children who have been abandoned.
- Children who are in head start programs.