According to the Georgia Department of Education, more than 15,000 children attending school were homeless last year. It's a statistic that has sparked a movement to provide some comfort for kids living in poverty.
Nothing sets the tone for a good winter night's sleep like a nice, warm pair of pajamas and a good book. But kids all over Georgia sleep in the same clothes they went to school in, and there's something you can do to change that.
It was a special, surprise afternoon party for kids at an Atlanta shelter, complete with Christmas music, face painting and a tree. But the gifts surrounding the tree were more valuable than any toy.
The children, currently living in a My Sister's House shelter, were given brand new pajamas.
"There are children who are just living in situations where they don't have adequate heat. They might not have a bed like you and I think of to sleep in, and it's just cold," said Tanya Coventry-Strader of Carter's, Inc.
It's called the danger season and happens across the country. An organization called the Pajama Program has made it a mission to provide new pajamas to the nation's more than 1 million children living in shelters or foster care. Salese Mastan says she's working hard to provide for her son, but this gift helps.
"I think it's wonderful. My kids do not have pajamas, and so this is just a wonderful experience for them to come here and have fun," said Mastan.
Clothing companies Carter's Inc. and OshKosh B'gosh sponsored the pajama party. The kids were given books to go along with their new pajamas. But the party wasn't truly complete without one last surprise – an appearance by Santa!
"That toy under the tree they might play with it for a couple of days, and then it gets put to the side but a pair of PJs, they use every single night. And every night when they crawl into bed they are reminded that they have those warm pj's. It's like a hug," said Strader.
The Pajama Program needs you to help accomplish its goal of keeping kids warm at night. You can donate a new pair of pajamas at any Carter's store for only $8. There is a collection bin at the Alliance Theater. Donations can also be made online. Donations made in a local Carter's store will be given to a local shelter. For more information, click here!
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:37 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:37:15 GMT
You've seen us handing out Good Day Gas Money for weeks now, and Gurvir and Karen have met plenty of those lucky winners in person.
You've seen us handing out Good Day Gas Money for weeks now, and Gurvir and Karen have met plenty of those lucky winners in person. But Paul turned up the heat when he enlisted the help of two actresses from the new movie Operation Heat to play a little prank on his unsuspecting coworkers.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:30 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:30:53 GMT
Does your summer road trip include mouth-watering stops at mom-and-pop eateries? Ours does, and it'll be even better with the help of a new Southern Living book!
Off the Eaten Path: Second Helpings is dedicated to finding the best meals in the south-- and it features some great restaurants right here in north Georgia. Good Day's Paul Milliken checked out two of those gems-- The Hil in Serenbe, and Weaver D's in Athens! As usual, he didn't leave hungry.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:17 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:17:14 GMT
The new season of Masterchef features a local contestant from the metro area! Jessie Lysiak is from Social Circle, and she's about to make her big debut on the hit FOX show.
The new season of Masterchef features a local contestant from the metro area! Jessie Lysiak is from Social Circle, and she's about to make her big debut on the hit FOX show. But first, she stopped by Good Day to cook us up one of her favorite recipes.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:56 AM EDT2013-05-22 13:56:24 GMT
Americans are known for their pearly whites, but we pay for it—and it isn't cheap.
Americans are known for their pearly whites, but we pay for it—and it isn't cheap. If you have more than one child who needs braces, you have quite an expense on your hands—but FOX 5 I-Team reporter Dana Fowle found some ways to make it a little more manageable.
This week's Good Day Casting Call is loaded with opportunities! Whether you're a jock, a hipster, or a funky-looking worker (WHAT?), there's a job on the big screen for you!
This week's Good Day Casting Call is loaded with opportunities! Whether you're a jock, a hipster, or a funky-looking worker (WHAT?), there's a job on the big screen for you!
Our own Katie Beasley is about to get hitched! She's finally finished planning her big day, and she did lots of it herself. She let us in on her DIY secrets on Good Day!
Our own Katie Beasley is about to get hitched! She's finally finished planning her big day, and she did lots of it herself. She let us in on her DIY secrets on Good Day!
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:29 AM EDT2013-05-22 13:29:22 GMT
Summer is almost here, and that means lots of people will be hitting the roads on vacation. But before you go, don't forget to give your car a little TLC to get it ready for the highway.
Summer is almost here, and that means lots of people will be hitting the roads on vacation. But before you go, don't forget to give your car a little TLC to get it ready for the highway.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:51 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:51:47 GMT
Chances are your child or someone in your child's class has at least one food allergy.
Chances are your child or someone in your child's class has at least one food allergy. A study by the CDC released last week shows that one in every 20 kids is dealing with food allergies. It's a challenge, but doctors say it's important that kids get diagnosed and treated.
