Photo courtesy of KidsPark.
This holiday season, KidsPark, the national chain of hourly childcare centers, has partnered with The Pajama Program to participate in The Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive.
The Pajama Program is a nonprofit organization that provides pajamas to children who live in group homes, shelters, foster care and orphanages. Last year, 18,000 pairs of pajamas were donated to children in need, with Scholastic Book Clubs matching every single pajama donation with a new book. This is the 10th anniversary of the drive, and the goal this year is 25,000 pajamas. Scholastic will again match every pair of pajamas donated with a new book.
KidsPark’s goal is to contribute 500 pairs of pajamas to the drive by collecting new pajamas for babies and children ages newborn to 12 years old. If parents are too busy to shop, they can make a cash donation directly to KidsPark that will go toward pajamas that KidsPark will purchase. At KidsPark’s Scottsdale location, families who make a donation will be entered into a raffle to win $25 or $50 KidsPark gift certificates.
The drive continues through Friday, Dec. 9.
“Growing up, many of us were fortunate enough to have parents that said, ‘Now go put your jammies on and let’s read a book!’ We want every child to feel warm and cozy this winter,” says Debbie Milner, founder and CEO of KidsPark.
Pajama Program’s mission becomes more urgent during the period it identifies as “Danger Season,” when the thermostat dips and the harsh winter months settle in. Beginning in October, Pajama Program works hard to heighten the public’s awareness of the need to keep these at risk children in warm, clean nighttime clothing and with a bedtime book to allay their fears.
Photo courtesy of KidsPark.
Founded in Silicon Valley in 1988, KidsPark is a licensed hourly childcare company, with centers staffed by professional caregivers for preschool- and school-age children. KidsPark offers a safe and fun space that is available without making a reservation; parents can drop their children by any day, evening, or weekend and centers are open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. Many centers also offer backup care when school is out of session for holidays like Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, or spring breaks.
KidsPark childcare start at $7.50 an hour. Families pay a one-time registration feel and no monthly fees or reservations are required. kidspark.com.
