Club Participates in "Stuff-A-Bus" Pajama Program with Yonkers Chamber

Posted on Nov 08, 2016
 
The Club participated in the 2016 "Stuff-A-Bus" Pajama Program alongwith the Yonkers Chamber and other organizations.  The drive ended on 8 November with the handing over of the Club's collection of Pajamas and books at the Yonkers Chamber.
 
Club President Mahbub Ahmad and Membership Chair Shahid Latif handed over the collected items at a short ceremony at the Yonkers Chamber office on 8 November.  Present at the ceremony were Mayor Spano, Chamber Director of Marketing, Jeanne Martinelli  and representatives of other organizations participating in the Drive.  News 12 covered the event at its newscasts that evening. 
 
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.
 
Earlier, the Club had placed a collection box at its regular meeting place at Luciano's Italian Restaurant, 2192 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers.  Members and other donors dropped off new pajamas and/or new books in the collection box, marked with the Rotary and Pajama Program Emblems. 
 
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.