Call for PJ's touches a mother's heart

Warwick — It’s not often Essra Paddock gets to watch Oprah. As a home daycare provider, she has little time for television during the day. Recently, she had a day off one Thursday, so she settled into her Clinton Avenue living room and turned on the queen of talk shows. On this day, Dr. Oz wasn’t giving tips on how to stay healthy, nor was Dr. Robin Smith giving relationship advice. No Bob Greene that day giving hints on getting in shape, nor Nate Berkus trying to help decorate our homes. No, Paddock tuned in to a show that touched her heart and moved her to act to help children in need. “We have our routine at night,” said Paddock, a mother of two, 11-year-old Darren and 1½-year-old Phoebe. “We get comfy in bed, in nice warm pajamas. You think everyone does this.” That Oprah show told about two women who founded the Pajama Program, a non-profit group that collects new pajamas and books for needy children, many of them foster children. The Pajama Program was founded in 2001 by Genevieve Piturro and Alice Pagano Quirk. According to the group’s Web site, www.pajamaprogram.org, Piturro volunteered at shelters, reading stories to children who were homeless or victims of abuse. She realized these kids didn’t have pajamas. They slept in their street clothes. She decided to help change that. Many children don’t know the comforts of a parent to tuck them in at night with cozy pajamas and a soothing bedtime story. “You just think that everyone has pajamas,” said Paddock. “They are not a luxury to most of us. But pajamas mean comfort.” Since she worked with children herself, Paddock thought the program would be a great opportunity to teach her kids about giving to others who have less than they do. They already participated in Warwick’s Angel Tree during the holidays. She went to the parents in her daycare, who, she added, are great. She looked up the closest collection spot for the pajamas and books, and went to work. She contacted Warwick schools, but the timing wasn’t right. Heading into the close of the school year, she learned, is not the best time for fundraising, Although word spread and many pajamas and books were brought to her from her son’s school, Park Avenue. The other schools expressed interest, but for the future. Now, everyone can participate. There are drop boxes located at stores throughout Warwick including Bink, The Toy Chest, Clocktower Video, The Inkwell, the Tuscan Cafe and Leo Kaytes Ford. Only new books and new pajamas for infants through 17 years old are accepted. The pajamas must still have the tags on them. Paddock points out that this may be the first time some of these children have ever had something new all their own. She will complete here current collection at the end of August and send Warwick’s contribution on to the organization. For information about Paddock’s efforts, e-mail her at shootingstarskids@yahoo.com. Otherwise drop off your jammies and books at a drop box in the village.