How many pairs of pajamas do you have? How many pairs do your kids have? Although Red has grown out of most of his sets from last year, we still have enough to wear and do laundry at the same time. Our overnights are always warm and toasty. But I can’t say the same for many homeless children right here in Atlanta. Did you know that the average age of a homeless person is only NINE years old? That’s a staggering statistic to me. Starting in December and leading into the winter is the the coldest, most difficult time for these kids. Many have been abused, abandoned or neglected, living in group homes, shelters or temporary housing without adequate heat. This means bedtime can be a scary time, when the simple gift of a warm pair of pajamas goes a long way.
For the fifth year in a row, Atlanta-based Carter’s is proud to partner with the Pajama Program’s “One Million Good Nights” campaign, setting up pajama donation bins in all of the Carter’s stores throughout Atlanta. These “One Million Good Nights” bins aim to collect 100,000 pairs of pajamas for Atlanta children by December 31st. Every child deserves to sleep in their own pjs every night!
Check out these facts shared by Carters and the Pajama Program:
· 1 in 5 American children live in poverty – a higher rate than any other developed country except for Romania. (2013)
· The average age of a homeless person in the United States is 9 years old. (via Open Door Mission)
· Each year, over 800,000 children and youth in the United States experience homelessness. (Source: U.S. Dept. of Education)
· More than 16 million children in the United States – 22% of all children – live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level. (Source: National Center for Children in Poverty)
· More than 3.5 million people are homeless every night, and 1.35 million are children. (Source: National Coalition for the Homeless)
Carter’s will be supporting Pajama Program’s “One Million Good Nights” campaign through in-store donation bins. If you are near a store, please think about donating a new pair of PJs to these kids. You can donate through December 31, 2014 at any of the Carter’s stores in the Atlanta area. For more information, visit:www.carters.com/carters-pj-
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