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Helen’s Pajama Party FAQ’s
Where and when did Helen’s Pajama Party start?
Helen’s Pajama Party was started by Kelly Sargent in Des Moines, Iowa in October 2007.
How did she get the idea?
Driving home late after work on a cold October night, she had an irresistible urge to buy new pajamas. Since she already owned several pairs, getting more seemed impractical at best, yet she craved the comfort of a cozy, new set. As she stood in the pajama department pondering which pair to buy, it occurred to her that if she felt that way about getting new pajamas, and she has a safe home and a loving husband, women seeking protection in domestic violence shelters -- who nearly always arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs -- might also be comforted by a pair of new pajamas.
Why isn’t it called Kelly’s Pajama Party?
She discovered that a racy website called Kelly’s Pajama Party exists on the internet. She definitely didn’t want to be confused with that, so she named the charity after her mother who died when she was 36 and Kelly was six.
Realistically, how much difference can a small thing like a new pair of pajamas make combatting such a pervasive problem like domestic violence?
Here’s an excerpt from a letter from Sister Charla, the nun who’s the director of a domestic violence shelter in Iowa.
“Recently a former client came to our door and brought three new pairs of pajamas. She said for her the new pair of pajamas was the most precious thing she that first night at New Beginnings. When she left the shelter, she put that pair of pajamas in a drawer and wears them only one week a year on the anniversary of what calls her ‘first dream‘ because she doesn’t want to wear them out too quickly.”
Helen’s Pajama Party
108 3rd Street, Suite 216
Des Moines, IA 50309
515-244-7706 800-760-7706
