Working with Brooklyn for All, Inc., Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Book Bodega, and Target, about 450 Brooklyn children who are currently living in shelters will receive a book and pajama set this holiday season
BROOKLYN, NY (December 29, 2022) – Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso today announced his local private-public partnerships to gift children’s books and pajamas to hundreds of kids living in shelters throughout Brooklyn neighborhoods. Working with Reynoso’s city-affiliated charitable organization Brooklyn for All, Inc., Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Book Bodega, and Target, about 450 Brooklyn children – ranging from infants to pre-teens – who are currently living in shelters will receive a book and pajama set this holiday season. Distributions began on December 17th at a partnering church in Bed-Stuy and continued through the month in partnership with eight local organizations and family shelters located across various Brooklyn neighborhoods, including Brownsville, East New York, Bed-Stuy, and Williamsburg.
“Every child should be able to enjoy the holiday magic of a cozy winter night in Brooklyn,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “While we build the policies that put long-term, dignified housing within reach for all families in Brooklyn, it’s initiatives like this that can provide relief and comfort in the short term. I’m so grateful to the local organizations, family shelters, and companies who teamed up to spread the joy of a good book and comfy pajamas to local kids living in shelters, and I wish all of Brooklyn a very happy holiday season.”
“Target is honored to be a part of the Books and Pajama give away at Brooklyn Borough Hall,” said Kelly McGarrity, Store Director and Group Captain of Community Engagement & Volunteerism at Target. “New pajamas and books benefit children by creating a routine around bedtime. As adults we all know how important sleep is to us, so we can appreciate its significance to the developing minds of children.”
“Brooklyn Public Library is proud to partner with Borough President Reynoso this holiday season to ensure all children across the borough can experience the joy of cozy pajamas and a good book at bedtime,” said Nick Higgins, Chief Librarian at Brooklyn Public Library. “As we go into the new year, we look forward to supporting Brooklyn families as they create comforting nighttime routines and nurture a lifelong love of reading.”
“Through events like ‘Books and Pajamas,’ Brooklyn Book Bodega offers children the opportunity to build their own home library with books that they selected because it was a reflection of themselves or a window into another experience that interested them,” said Cecilia Golombek, Program and Volunteer Coordinator at Brooklyn Book Bodega. “Offering books in conjunction with pajamas joins the comfort of bedtime with the joy of reading, giving children the chance to connect with their families and households through stories that they’re excited about, furthering their love of reading.”
Brooklyn Book Bodega is an organization with a mission to increase the number of 100+ book homes for kids up to age 18 in NYC. The organization provides access to and ownership of books, builds community, and creates a passion for learning through free events and literacy-based community programming. Brooklyn Book Bodega has helped more than 37,000 New Yorkers start or add to their home libraries in 2022. As a dedicated supporter of youth during the holidays, Target has been a longstanding sponsor and partner for this initiative. Receiving organizations and shelters were identified based on need and location. For example, one partnering organization was selected based on their work with Brooklyn shelters for survivors of domestic violence. Recipients are undisclosed to protect privacy.
Borough President Reynoso began his first holiday season in the role with a holiday tree lighting at Borough Hall. The largest holiday tree in Borough Hall history at 30 feet, Borough President Reynoso was joined by carolers from Brooklyn’s Opera On Tap, Brooklyn Parks Commissioner Marty Maher, and partners for the lighting. Returning to his childhood roots, the Borough President also hosted a toy drive at Nuestros Niños Child Care Center in Williamsburg, the same day care center he attended as a child. All 75 of the center’s children received a gift and had the chance to meet famous Dominican merengue tipico group Banda Real. Finally, throughout the eight nights of Hanukkah, President Reynoso has traveled the borough lighting menorahs in Downtown Brooklyn with Chabad of Brooklyn Heights, lighting the largest menorah in Brooklyn at Grand Army Plaza with Chabad of Park Slope, and hosting a Hanukkah celebration with the Boro Park Jewish Community Council (BPJCC).