‘Tis the season for giving! Instilling a charitable spirit in your child can be challenging, but Plaid Pajamas has universal appeal. Their goal is to get local people in need bundled up in comfortable, warm, and new pajamas donated from generous families and children in the area. Founder Pamela Badolato used the popular family tradition of giving new pajamas at Christmas to inspire a simple idea that helped her children learn about the giving part of the holiday season. A season where it’s so easy for children to focus on making their own lists of what they want to receive. She wanted to help her children, and other children around her, to remember how important is to give as well.

Since 2014, volunteers have delivered over 10,000 pairs of pajamas to more than two dozen non-profit organizations. The list includes Cradles to Crayons, Head Start Philadelphia, Dom Fixes Bikes, Turning Points for Children, Great Valley Baptist Church, T&E Cares, St Christopher’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, Horizon House, and MORE in the Philadelphia region, as well as Pittsburgh, PA and New Haven, CT for some of the years.

How You Can Help

 Send a donation or sponsor a specific recipient

Send Pajamas: This year there is an Amazon Wish List filled with the most-needed sizes. You can select pajamas from this list and they’ll ship right to Pamela! Each year the first delivery is for T&E Care. There is a Sign Up Genius form for people who’d like to select a specific recipient for that delivery. The biggest need for sizes for these recipients is size 3T through 10/12 in kids, but they also accept adult sizes for the teens. The smallest need is infant sizes, but Plaid Pajamas will always use every pair that donors contribute. You can email Pamela for a mailing address at pamela@plaidpajamasproject.com if you would like to purchase pajamas and ship or deliver them. Many families like to shop in person with their kids, so delivering or dropping off works for that.

Donate money: Send money via PayPal to Pamela@plaidpajamasproject.com but PLEASE send as Friends & Family. This helps save money due to fees charged by PayPal. You may also send via Venmo to @pamelabadolato. 

 Coordinate a Pajama Drive

There are endless ways to collect pajamas! Place a bin in your business or office and ask people who come in to contribute. If you host a holiday get together or cookie exchange request that in lieu of a hostess gift that your guests bring a pajama donation. Plaid Pajamas tells us that there have even been children who asked for pajama donations instead of birthday gifts at their parties. This can happen any time of year! Challenge your Scout troop, your sports team, your dance school, anywhere kids gather to collect pajamas and talk to them about the importance of giving.

 Encourage a local business you love to host a donation bin or donate a portion of their sales to help Plaid Pajamas volunteers buy more pajamas.

Visit plaidpajamasproject.com and contact Pamela Badolato at pamela@plaidpajamasproject.com for more information. T&E Care must receive donations by 12/4. Volunteers will deliver all other pajama donations during the week of 12/16, so please send yours in time.

Discover more opportunities to volunteer with your family this holiday season at mainlineparent.com/volunteer.

 Header photo by John Sturgis Photography.