Daily Deed Reader Inspiration | 12/30/2008 5:53 am

Frances Stier's Daily Deed Idea: Pajamas for Homeless Kids

Small deeds become large actions when practiced by an entire community of caring women

By By Frances Stier

Posted by Frances Stier on 12/29/2008 5:08 pm

My synagogue works with a group of shelters for homeless families, a couple miles down the road. We collected new, warm pajamas & books for the kids (aged 9 months to 19 years), and some small gifts for the Moms, and brought them over the weekend before Christmas.

Everyone was very appreciative, but what sticks in my mind most was the shy, lanky boy, maybe 15, who came up to say thank you for his present — two books and a pair of pjs. My own two sons sometimes take things for granted.

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20 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

That’s a great one!

By Lorraine Bates on 12/30/2008 8:02 am

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This kid knew that 2 books and pj’s were treasures. Today’s kids for the most part wanted the Wii, the MP3 and so on and still did not think these items were anything but what the parents should give them. It was expected.

By Jeannot Kensinger on 12/30/2008 8:22 am

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when i was working for child protective services last year I would often come home with this underlying anger at my own kids for all that they “expected”. and i’ve got good kids. But the deprivation I saw every day… and the gratitude for the simplest of things… made the life I and my own children led seem almost sickeningly abundant. this year we bought socks, underwear and mattresses for a group home that houses teens…things my kids don’t even think about as they’ve always had them.

By Chrome Toe on 12/30/2008 8:30 am

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How about “Freecycle”? This is an on-line recycling system that operates in many communities (search on google to find it in your community). I receive a daily summary of “wanted, taken, and offered” items. I never read the “offered” because I have too much stuff but I always check the “wanted.” Today, by chance, someone will take my children’s old Fisher Price toys (boxes and boxes of them that I’ve been dying to get rid of) and someone else will take an electric blanket that I don’t need any more. A couple of weeks ago, someone wanted a set of bongo drums. Just happened that I happened to have drums that my daughter played twenty years ago. Now they’ve gone to a good home :)

By Sam Mirando on 12/30/2008 10:34 am

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What a wonderful idea! Thank you, Frances, and I will immediately email it to my friend who heads up a volunteer program at my church….

By Diana T on 12/30/2008 10:35 am

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Every year my church contributes our time and money to the aged! We usually get a list from one of the nursing homes in our area as to the needs for their patients. Usually they need socks, houseshoes, toiletries, books, games and other assorted items. They also love to receive Christmas Cards. This year my husband and I have traveled to many cities. Most hotels, motels, etc. always have toiletries — some of them quite lovely. I started collecting from each place we stayed. So, each time we stayed at a hotel/motel I asked the Manager if I could have extra goodies to give to our project. The reception from all was fantastic. It’s amazing! One hotel offered to donate 25 terry cloth robes along with the houseshoes. There is kindness out there — you just need to ask. I passed the information on to other ladies in our church group. This year we gathered approx 150 robes and enough toiletries to go around. Just remember this when you stay in a hotel — take all the toiletries, save them and donate to a senior citizen center or nursing home. Believe me, the smiles and the tears you experience are worth your contribution.

By Lady Gator on 12/30/2008 10:47 am

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Hi Lady G, a group of my Flight Atendant friends and I who always fly together, do the exact same thing and most of our flying is overseas and the company put’s us up in 5* hotels so alot of the amenities are name brands like L’ Occitaine and Bvlgary and such and have everything imaginable in them so we collect several sets of them and at months end the 4 of us rotate which place, such as local womens shelters or rest homes for the elderly in which to give to them. You are so right, the joy they derive from recieving these much needed items, is just such a blessing for us, as well as for them. :)

By HA BIBI on 12/30/2008 2:33 pm

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Hi Elaine: I didn’t know you were a flight attendant. How great is that. How wonderful for you to collect that stuff for others in need. It would probably only get thrown out instead. Great idea.

By Irish Eyes NY on 12/31/2008 11:07 am

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Hi Irish, yep I think I fall into the catagory of veteran now, as I’ve been flying for 30 years. Contemplating hanging up the wings this year as I can retire from it and still have lifetime travel/medical benefits. And we all know, that’s why we fly, LOL. Actually I love this career, but ready to chill and have time for other venues, so we’ll see. We do get some pretty neat gratis from these hotels, so always nice to see to it, that other people have those things that are everyday necessities, that come in handy. :)

By HA BIBI on 12/31/2008 1:39 pm

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Elaine: I have to tell ya, it was my childhood desire to be an “airline stewardess” as they called it back then. But a few things took precedence first, like getting married at age 16. It all worked out great tho, we’re still married 47 years later and 4 children later. I wouldn’t have changed it at all. So I can only wish Palin’s daughter the same happiness that I have had.

By Irish Eyes NY on 12/31/2008 1:48 pm

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Bless your heart Irish, Your marriage is to be highly admired, as it is so rare to have couples that have found the value of commitment! :)

By HA BIBI on 12/31/2008 2:09 pm

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Lady Gator and Elaine What a great idea. There is a great website called Anysoldier.com. It has the names and branch of military of many of the soldiers serving overseas. I found that the women soldiers got the same generic stuff the guys did. So, instead of picking a fellows name, I go for the women because they don’t get the hygiene products over there that they need. The also want to feel like a girl sometime. Beauty supply stores also give away many small samples and the women in Iraq and Afghanistan love them. I pick out names of people in the army because they are not on the main bases, they are on the FOBs and COPs. The bases get the majority of the stuff and not always the people out on the front. Many of the women that are in combat (yes they are!) are MP’s. They volunteer and choose it. They are brave and courageous and as my son says, “the really know how to represent” when under fire. I know I have put this info on a couple of times, but we can’t forget them over there. Happy New Year! http://www.anysoldier.com/

By Frannie Em on 12/31/2008 2:22 pm

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Frannie Em — I will see if we can do a run on this one with my church group. I would love to do this. There are such great things in some of these hotel packages. Everything from shower caps to sewing kits. Thanks for the info! Happy New Year to you and yours!

By Lady Gator on 12/31/2008 2:43 pm

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Thanks Lady Gator You’re a doll.

By Frannie Em on 01/02/2009 1:43 pm

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When I was a little girl, new jammies and a new book were always at the top of my list for Santa Claus. But I’m pretty sure I was the only one in my family who felt that way.

By Ms. Dee on 12/30/2008 11:50 am