‘Tis the season for giving, or in this case, for donating. Reading Specialist Chanda Powers, along with the help of her students and first-grade classes, have been donating new pajamas to those less fortunate by participating in The Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive. “This is our seventh year to do this and we started in 2014. We’ve collected over 800 pairs of new pajamas,” said Powers. They deliver new pajamas to the City Rescue Mission in Oklahoma City right before Christmas. For those interested, anyone can donate to the cause. The Pajama Program is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. They specialize in promoting the importance of a comforting bedtime routine and healthy sleep for all children to help them grow and thrive. “I think bedtime is very important and I hope they are in their safe space when they’re at home, in their bed, about to go to sleep,” Powers stated when asked how she feels bedtime is important to kids. Powers reminds her students all the good they are doing. She lets them know that their donation is making a difference. She expressed, “hopefully the kids understand that it’s better to give than to receive. I do explain to them that these people are less fortunate and some do not have a home. It’s just the mothers and their children. And some of them have probably never had a new pair of pajamas.”
Powers said the organization is near and dear to her and her husband Travis Powers. “It’s very important to Travis, my husband. He also gets donations through work and from friends. He always wants to help people and give back however he can,” she said.
Cordell Schools will be collecting pajamas until Friday Dec. 3rd. The donations must be brand-new and in complete sets or nightgowns. Pajamas in all sizes are needed from adult to newborn. Donations can be taken to Powers at the Cordell Elementary. For more information on how you can support an organization that relies on generous donations, please visit pajamaprogram.org or contact Chanda Powers at cpowers@cordell.k12.ok.us.