Monroe gives ‘Good Nights’ to 200 needy children

Thanks to Monroe Elementary students more than 200 needy children will have warm pajamas and new books to read this winter.

Monroe’s 2^nd and 3^rd grade classes have a long tradition of foregoing their traditional Christmas parties to collect items for the needy and community service organizations.

Monroe teacher Staci Heiden stands by five baskets of new pajamas
Monroe students and staff raise for the Pajama Program.

“Staci Heiden (Monroe 3rd grade teacher) approached me about the 2^nd and 3^rd grade classes joining the Pajama Program this year,” said Monroe principal Craig Horn. “It was such a great idea we decided to make it school wide effort.”

Mrs. Heiden set a goal of collecting 200 new pajamas for the Pajama Program, which provides new pajamas and new books to children in need nationwide, many of whom are waiting to be adopted.

“Scholastic publishers donate one new book for every pair of pajamas donated to the program and Monroe was able to give 201 needy children warm pajamas and a new book to read,” said Heiden.

Horn rewarded the school an all-day pajama party Dec. 17 for reaching the school’s goal.

Monroe staff and students were rewarded with an all-day pajama party
 after reaching the school's goal of 200 pajamas for the Pajama Program

The mission of the Pajama Program is to give “every child has a right to a good night” by providing warm pajamas and new books to children in need nationwide with a goal of collecting 1 million pajamas a 1 million books. With more than a week to go the organization has collected 971,273 PJs and 917,046 thanks to the effort of schools like Monroe.

For more information about the program go to http://www.pajamaprogram.org/.