MANSFIELD — Richland County Children Services (RCCS) has partnered with the Pajama Program to provide new pajamas to children in Richland County.
The Pajama Program is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes and supports a comforting bedtime routine and healthy sleep for children to help them thrive. Since 2001, Pajama Program has delivered over 7 million good nights for good days to children facing adversity by providing new pajamas, storybooks, and resources for caregivers.
Pajama Program offers bedtime resources and sleep education nationwide, as well as through local programs in New York City, Atlanta, and metro-Detroit. To achieve its mission, Pajama Program relies on a national network of volunteers, generous donors, and partnerships with 4,000 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico.
“RCCS is grateful for the new pajamas made possible through the Pajama Program’s Eastern Ohio Chapter President Teri Dwyer,” said Brigitte Coles, Community Engagement Specialist. “This marks the second year working with the program and RCCS wanted to provide pajamas for our community partners. We were able to provide 1,800 pairs of pajamas for boys and girls from infant to size 8.”
The pajamas were shared with the Community Health Access Project (CHAP), Akron Children’s Hospital Mansfield, the Mansfield Area Y Childcare and The New Store.
“The New Store is an organization that provides Richland County Children Services and school-aged children with backpacks, coats, new school clothing and tennis shoes along with PJ’s who are referred through schools in Richland County,” said Rhonda Marsh, The New Store Board Member and RCCS Kinship Navigator. “We would like to say thank you to RCCS for their generosity of making children happy and comfortable while they sleep.”
The Pajama Program was founded in 2001 by Genevieve Piturro. Inspired by her experience reading to children waiting for foster care placement in New York City, she realized many of the children did not have pajamas. She began collecting them from her family and friends and delivered them to the children herself. Her initiative grew into a nationwide effort to provide comforting bedtimes and healthy sleep to all children, everywhere.
About the Pajama Program
The Pajama Program was founded in 2001 by Genevieve Piturro. Inspired by her experience reading to children waiting for foster care placement in New York City, she realized many of the children did not have pajamas. She began collecting them from her family and friends and delivered them to the children herself. Her initiative grew into a nationwide effort to provide comforting bedtimes and healthy sleep to all children, everywhere.
The Pajama Program, Eastern Ohio Chapter
Teri Dwyer, Eastern Ohio Chapter President, is a single mother who works full time at the City of Fairlawn Tax Department. As a former foster mother, she has seen first-hand the need to help children in her community. Over the years, she fostered four girls, including her daughter Ruth who she adopted in 2010. She is happy to take over the great work that Patty Gillespie began in September 2007 and make a difference in the lives of children in her community.
