The Better Sleep Council Supports Pajama Program for Kids in Need

Last month I introduced you to the cheekily-named Stop Sleeping Around campaign from the Better Sleep Council. To review, the Better Sleep Council is “a non-profit organization supported by the mattress industry … devoted to educating the public about the importance of sleep to good health and quality of life.” With the Stop Sleeping Around campaign, they are hoping to encourage people to stop nodding off outside of the bedroom and instead create a positive, restful routine and environment for sleeping in bed.

Though it is certainly the ideal to have a positive, restful routine for sleep, the Better Sleep Council recognizes the complex social issues facing some children and families who are unable to afford a full night of high-quality sleep in their own beds. Because of this, as part of the Stop Sleep Around campaign, the Better Sleep Council will be donating $100 in my name to Pajama Program.

Pajama Program is a not-for-profit organization that operates in 40 states, bringing pajamas and books to children in a variety of situations, including group homes, shelters, temporary housing, and in some cases living with their own families far under the poverty level. These children are often living through adverse conditions, shuffling from place to place, and have very little to call their own.

Genevieve Pitturo was inspired to create Pajama Program after visiting a Harlem center for children and seeing how puzzled and amazed the children were when she brought them their own pairs of pajamas. Most of them either slept in their street clothes or nothing at all, and she realized that bringing children new pajamas and a book might give them a gentler end to some otherwise rough days. Indeed, even just a quick look through responses from some of the children receiving pajamas and books from this program, you can see how much it means to them.

Pajama Program depends on support from volunteers, supporters, event hosts, pajama drive sponsors, and donations of new pajamas and new children’s books. If you would like to contribute in any way, please visit the Help Us page at the Pajama Program website and choose from the many options they give for ways to support the program.

*Disclosure: The Better Sleep Council will be providing a $100 donation in my name to Pajama Program, a charity I chose. I wrote this post as part of a larger, paid campaign for Stop Sleeping Around and the Better Sleep Council. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

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