Schools

Students Celebrate Sandy Collection With PJ Day

Jefferson Elementary School students in West Caldwell earn right to wear their pjs to school for donating to Union Beach relief efforts.

Jefferson Elementary School students participated in a special PJ Spirit Day in exchange for their generous donations toward Sandy recovery efforts in Union Beach, NJ. 

Students and faculty donated clothing, food, household items and holiday gifts, as well as money, to help one of the towns hit hardest by the historic October storm.

The drive was organized by fifth-grade teacher James Curran, who said he has family and friends in the area.

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”It’s a small community that saw hundreds of homes destroyed and hundreds more ravaged by flooding,” Curran said. “I have a personal connection through family and friends and wanted to do all I could to try to help those in need during the holidays and beyond.”

Students who made donations were encouraged to wear their pajamas to school one day in December as a thank you for their generosity.

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“The drive was a great success in the amount of donations we received, but also in the lesson it taught our Jefferson students,” Curran said. “It’s so encouraging to see one great community come together to help another community, all while teaching students how giving back can change the lives of others.”


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