This will be the eighth year of the Pajama Drive. I got the idea, in 2010 while undergoing treatment and a bone marrow transplant for leukemia. During the 12-weeks that I was hospitalized, I could only wear PJ's. I have such great friends. Several of them sent me several pairs of new pajamas. I loved them and proudly wore my many different pajamas while in hospital. There were days that were just awful and then I would get a package with new jammies.
I am also the adoptive mom of three wonderful boys. When my kids were initially placed with me (as a foster mom) they had no pajamas. I remember the joy my oldest son expressed when he got his first pair of NEW pajamas. He pranced around our home, gleefully chanting that he LOVED HIS (Sponge Bob) PAJAMAS. Most kids when they enter foster care, come in with only the clothes on their backs. Many, like my boys, have never had pajamas, certainly not NEW pajamas.
When I was in the hospital, I promised myself and God that if I survived leukemia, I would pay it forward, in a big way. As I was getting ready to celebrate my first post-transplant holidays, I began to focus on what my family holiday traditions were and how important it was for me to continue those traditions for my boys. I needed to create a sense of normal for a very abnormal year. As I thought about the tradition of a new set of pajamas for Christmas, I was reminded of the thousands, yes, thousands of kids in foster care that did not have that tradition. I wanted to change that. I also wanted to teach my boys a lesson in gratitude and remembering where they came from. It was important for them to understand that someone always has less than you.
In 2011, that first year, I asked for 200 sets of pajamas and ended up with 386 sets of pajamas, each with either a pair of slippers or fuzzy socks. Many received bathrobes, socks, hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves. It really was pretty amazing.
In 2012, we set a goal of 500 sets of pajamas and again, that goal was more than met, it was surpassed. We ended up with over 600 sets of pajamas, along with slippers, fuzzy socks, hats, mitten, gloves etc.
In 2013, I was challenged to aim big so we set the goal for 1,000 sets and ended up with over 1,500 sets of pajamas. We were able to share PJs with kids in a homeless shelter. It was this year that as a family we decided that we would like to do this annually. Getting new pajamas was such a big part of our family holiday tradition. We would like to pass that on to as many kids in care as possible.
In 2014, The CBS evening news followed us and our story and was aired on Christmas Eve. This was an amazing opportunity and I felt so blessed to have been able to share the story of the pajama drive.
Four years later, in 2018, I am told that there are still almost 1,000 kids in foster care. So we will aim high again. We hope to collect 1,000 pairs of pajamas this year but will welcome as many as we get.
In previous years, people and organizations throughout the states have helped to collect pajamas. It seems to be a message that both adults and children of all ages have been able to connect with.
Most requested sizes are XS-3XL adult, to be given to teens, both girl and boy. Thank you for your support in this dream to get every kid in foster care, a new pair of PJ's for Christmas.
Kathleen Jackson, Founder
DC Holiday Pajama Drive
November 5, 2018
