What started with 34 pairs of pajamas handed out on a Centereach front porch has become a national mission of comfort, kindness, and community. Thanks to the growing impact of EJ’s PJs, thousands of people—from Long Island shelters to Kentucky classrooms—are slipping into warm pajamas and feeling the power of one small act of care.
That mission came to life again last week in Louisville, Kentucky, where Patricia Poggi, founder of EJ’s PJs, helped bring pajamas—and joy—to every student at Engelhard Elementary School for the second year in a row.
It all began with a quiet act of kindness from Larry Farrish Jr., a Jefferson County Public Schools bus driver who noticed something was wrong with one of his young riders. First-grader Levi was unusually quiet one morning and tearfully admitted he didn’t have pajamas for the school’s Pajama Day. After finishing his route, Farrish went out, bought two pairs, and delivered them to Levi at school.
That simple gesture didn’t just lift Levi’s spirits—it inspired a movement.
“If it weren’t for Larry, we would not be standing here in Kentucky,” said Poggi, who named the nonprofit after her sons Edward, Jeremy, and Patrick. “Larry solidified our mission statement: that one pair of pajamas makes a difference.”
That sentiment echoed loudly in a school gym full of dancing, laughing children, each clutching a brand-new pair of pajamas. “This might be the only time they get to have a pajama dance party, so we want to be impactful,” Poggi told WDRB television.
For students like Giddeon, the joy was unforgettable: “This is the best day of my life,” he said. His classmate Caydance added, “I feel good and I’m grateful for it.”
Now in its 14th year, EJ’s PJs has distributed over 16,000 pairs of pajamas, with a goal of reaching 20,000 by the end of 2025. The organization has grown far beyond its Long Island roots, serving not just schoolchildren but also veterans, domestic violence shelters, recovery centers, and more. April has been declared “Pajama Month”, with campaigns such as “Push-Ups for Pajamas” encouraging local businesses and community members to get involved.
But even with big goals and expanding outreach, Poggi stays grounded in the simplicity of her mission. “I only need one subject,” she told the South Shore Press. “One pair of pajamas can make a difference.”
That message was on display in Louisville, where a bus driver’s empathy and a Long Island nonprofit’s persistence combined to bring warmth and wonder to a school full of kids, some of whom may have never owned a new pair of pajamas.
“You don’t know anybody’s situation and circumstance,” Poggi said. “This one pair of pajamas can bring them peace, comfort, and joy.”
As one third-grader at Engelhard wisely put it: “You have to treat people how you want to be treated.” And that’s precisely what EJ’s PJs—from Long Island to Kentucky—is doing, one cozy pair at a time.