Recently, Town Clerk Kevin LaValle visited Connect Church in Centereach to celebrate the success of the annual EJ'S PJS Pajama Drive. The event transformed the church into a "winter wonderland" and was attended by community members and vendors. The drive, founded by Patricia Poggi and her sons in 2011, aims to provide pajamas to children and teens who need them most.
The tradition began with the Poggi family's custom of wearing their "Poggi Plaid Pajamas" each Christmas. This inspired them to start a fundraiser collecting new pajamas for local charities. This year, nearly 5,000 pajamas were donated.
Santa Claus made an appearance at the celebration for the children, enhancing the festive atmosphere.
Town Clerk Kevin LaValle expressed his gratitude: "It's an incredible feeling knowing that roughly 5,000 children and adults will have cozy pajamas for this holiday season. Witnessing the tremendous number of donated pajamas was truly inspiring. Thank you to everyone for making such a difference."
For more information on how to contribute to this cause, visit EJSPJS.org.