South Side Middle School student Declan Hawthorne helped raise $1,600 for the Pajama Program last month during the Manhattan-based organization’s second annual Pajama Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.
Petti Cellura, Rockville Centre resident and president of the Pajama Program’s Long Island chapter, said her group raised about $3,000 of the more than $40,000 collected in total.
“I have to say, Declan, God bless him, did most of it,” said Cellura, who is Declan’s great aunt. “I guess being our youngest member to walk, he really garnered a lot of interest and a lot of support. We were very proud of him.”
Declan’s mother, Jennifer, said helping out the organization is a family affair, and though he has helped her sort and carry books in the past, this year was the first time he asked to walk.
“I was happy to raise the money so that the kids could have pajamas and books,” Declan said in an email. “I was surprised. I didn’t think I would make that much.”
The Pajama Program gathers new pajamas and books for children in need in order to provide them with a “loving bedtime,” according to the organization’s website. “The purpose of the program is that every child should have a good night to wake up to a good day,” Cellura said.
Locally, pajamas and books are sent to places like the Bethany House in Freeport, as well as Rockville Centre Headstart, part of a federally-funded program that offers a variety of services to preschoolers and their families.
Marie Davis, director of the village’s Headstart program, said the 28 children at the center — each of low-income families — receive pajamas around the holidays in December. “You can just see the smiles on their face,” Davis said.
The Pajama Program also partnered with Target, which held a book reading at the center on North Centre Avenue last March. At Rockville Centre Headstart, Davis added, the children have monthly birthday celebrations during which they wear their pajamas.
“She’s really vital to the community,” Davis said of Cellura, “Especially to our children who may not be able to afford pajamas.”
Meeting program recipients at the walk, according to Jennifer, made Declan understand that the need for pajamas and books for many children is real. “It feels wonderful to know that Declan has awareness and empathy at such a young age,” she said. “I hope he continues to donate his talents and his time to help those in need and that he continues to pick organizations close to his heart.”
