Winter has arrived in North Texas. The daily temperatures have been making it clear for at least two weeks. Unfortunately for some, winter means cold nights without the warmth of adequate clothing.
Without the proper clothing, children are most vulnerable to the cold and serious ailments, possibly even death.
In an effort to fight off the cold winter, the North Texas Chapter of the Pajama Program will be holding a Stuff A Bus Pajama and Book Drive from Dec. 8-12.
A charter bus from Executive Coach will be at the Ooh Baby at Stacy’s Furniture in Allen on Dec. 13 from noon to 7 p.m. as part of the Stuff A Bus program that has been a holiday initiative benefitting area children for more than a decade.
Through the Stuff A Bus campaign, more than 300,000 pairs of pajamas and books have been given to children around the world.
“The goal this year is to raise 10,000 pairs of pajamas and as many books as possible from strictly the Dallas-Fort Worth area drives,” said Rita Arn, president of the North Texas chapter of the Pajama Program. “We’re hopeful for a good turnout because we’re doing this for the children in need.”
Arn said the number of children benefiting from the drive depends on how many pairs of pajamas and books are collected throughout the week.
“There was recently a drive in upstate New York that raised 400 pairs,” Arn said. “Considering the multiple locations that we’ve got in the DFW area, 10,000 is definitely achievable.”
The Stuff A Bus program is different from other charity fundraisers because the collection is for new items and all proceeds will be divvied among the organizations that requested the sleepwear and/or books, Arns said.
In the past, the Stuff A Bus donations have benefited children at the East Texas Heart Gallery, Baylor medical services, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Collin County and Dallas and multiple homeless and women’s shelters across North Texas.
Arn got involved with the Pajama Project after watching a feature on “Oprah.”
“I fell in love with the project and it’s turned into one of my passions,” Arn said. “As a realtor, I am in the home business and I thought I could make some of these children feel safe at home if I could help provide pajamas for them to snuggle up in and a book to curl up with.”
Organizations can still sign-up to be recipients of the donated goods during the Stuff A Bus campaign at www.pajamaproject.org.
Four buses are scheduled to be stationed throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area to receive donations.
On Dec. 11, two buses from Alliance Bus Charters will be at the El Fenix Restaurant and in the parking lot of the American Airlines Center in Dallas from 2-7 p.m.
On Dec. 11-12, a bus from Eagle Tours, Inc. will be at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth from 2:30-7 p.m. Billy Bob’s is located at 2520 Rodeo Plaza in Fort Worth.
Also on Dec. 11, a charter bus from Executive Coach, Inc. will be at Ooh Baby at Stacy’s Furniture in Grapevine from 2-7 p.m. On Dec. 12, the buses will be at the Ooh Baby at Stacy’s Furniture in Allen from noon to 7 p.m. to collect donations.
In the Waxahachie area, a charter bus from Lone Star Coaches will be at the offices of Dr. Laura Morgan, located at 201 Ferris Avenue, on Dec. 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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