Birch Elementary Sponsors Pajama Drive

Birch Elementary School is helping less fortunate kids get a more comfortable night’s sleep.

Students, teachers and faculty members at the Merrick school are participating in a schoolwide pajama drive, collecting and donating new sleeping outfits to the Scholastic Pajama Program.

Fourth-grade teacher Alison Ippolito and kindergarten teacher Melissa Mayo introduced the drive earlier this month after reading an article in Scholastic News. Their classes were intrigued to help children in need and be a force of change in their community, getting other adults at the school involved. All donations will be collected by Dec. 17.

The Scholastic Pajama Program is a not-for-profit organization that provides new pajamas and books to children in need who are waiting to be adopted. The program launched in 2001 and has since donated over one million pajamas and books to children across the country.

Photo: Birch Elementary School students, from left, Jordan Ovalle, Emmy Rosenberg, Marlee Goldberg and Lucas Vesely donated new pajamas to the Scholastic Pajama Program.

Photo courtesy of Merrick School District.