Pajamas being collected for children

Some children are so in need that they do not own a pair of pajamas. They sleep in their clothes or in their underwear. This fact became nationally known when Genevieve Piturro appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” five years ago to explain her experience giving new pajamas to children in shelters.

Robin Aniboli, a social worker for Ocean Health Initiatives (OHI), knows firsthand how true the pajama story is.

“We serve a population in Lakewood and Toms River who are in great need. People don’t realize how disadvantaged our patients are,” Aniboli said.

Aniboli is asking the public to donate new pajamas for about a thousand Ocean County underprivileged children who are OHI patients.

“We serve about 500 children per week between the two sites.” Aniboli said.

Lisa Ruggiero, volunteer coordinator of the “Pajama Program,” recently donated 50 pairs of pajamas to OHI that she collected through the efforts of the Yoga and U Foundation, Point Pleasant Beach.

“They are a huge blessing for us,” Aniboli said.

Organizations and individuals who wish to donate new pajamas, toys or money are asked to wrap their gifts and label them with the gender, age and size. Aniboli would be glad to arrange to pick up donations, or they may be brought to 301 Lakehurst Road, Toms River.

For more information call (732) 552- 0377, ext. 8247.