Thousands of people are snuggling up at night in comfy pajamas courtesy of EJ’s PJs, a group that is looking to keep 20,000 people warm this year.
“We started out on my front porch giving away pajamas to some of our neighbors in need,” said founder Patricia Poggi. They gave out 34 pairs from her Centereach home that first year and named the effort after her sons Edward, Jeremy, and Patrick.
Now, 14 years later, EJ’s PJs has distributed over 16,000 pairs of pajamas, with a goal of surpassing 20,000 by the end of 2025. The organization has grown from a small family effort into a year-round nonprofit and serves children, veterans, domestic violence shelters, and even individuals in recovery centers.
They have declared April “Pajama Month,” aligning with National Pajama Day on April 6 and Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day on April 16. To mark the occasion, EJ’s PJs is launching several initiatives, including “Push-Ups for Pajamas,” a fundraiser encouraging teams and organizations to pledge donations. Businesses such as Primark, Starbucks, and Hummus Fit have already pledged support.
The organization is also preparing for its second annual trip to Louisville, Kentucky, where it will once again provide pajamas for an elementary school. The tradition began when a local school bus driver bought pajamas for a child who couldn’t afford to participate in Pajama Day, an act of kindness that resonated with Poggi.
Locally, EJ’s PJs continues to expand its outreach on Long Island, providing pajamas to early childhood programs, mental health facilities, and summer camps. “Suffolk County and Long Island will always be home base,” Poggi said. “You have to take care of home before you can take care of the world.”
As the organization continues to grow, Poggi remains focused on a single mission: pajamas. “I only need one subject,” she said. “One pair of pajamas can make a difference.”
Join them on April 5 for their Breakfast with the Easter Bunny fundraiser at the Texas Roadhouse in Selden. Donations are welcome at ejspjs.org.