Arizona woman continues charity her mom started
Maria Patterson, one of the founders of, The Angel Heart Pajama Project is a local charity in Tucson, Arizona they give free gifts to kids. The Angel Heart Pajama Project, a local charity that provides free bedtime gifts to children in need, aims to give as many as possible for free. The project founders, Maria Patterson, started the project over a decade ago and aim to deliver pajamas, books, and blankets to over 80 organizations in Tucson. The first deliveries take place at Southern Arizona's Ronald McDonald House Charities, Casa de los Ninos, an organization that has been working with Tucson kids for 50 years. The small gifts are often the first time children have ever received anything new from the donation room. Patterson credits the generosity of the U.S. for allowing her family to stay in America when they escaped Cuba in the 1960s.
Publicado : hace 2 semanas por Adam Klepp en
TUCSON, Arizona (KGUN) — Pajamas, books and blankets are small gifts making a big impact in our community.
The Angel Heart Pajama Project is a local charity, and their goal is to give these bedtime gifts to as many kids as possible for free.
They make deliveries every quarter and will be on the road the next two weeks hitting over 80 organizations in Tucson.
One of the first stops is Southern Arizona’s Ronald McDonald House Charities.
“It’s such a comfort in the evening, and it helps to alleviate fears of nighttime,” Scott Matlick said. “Especially if there’s a sickness of some sort. It’s such a special thing for our families to have.”
Then the Angels head to Casa de los Ninos, an organization that has been working with Tucson kids for 50 years.
“We have a lot of partners all throughout the community that make this possible. It’s a small and kind gift of pajamas and books, but it’s hugely impactful to our clients,” Favin Gebremariam said. “When they receive anything from our donation room, it’s often the first time they’re receiving anything new.”
Maria Patterson is one of the Angel Heart Pajama Project founders. Her mom started the project over a decade ago.
She felt she owed a debt to the U.S., as her family was allowed to stay in America when they escaped Cuba in the 1960s.
“The only way we could leave was to escape in a boat. There was 21 of us, we were packed in like sardines. And we hit a tropical storm, we didn’t think we were going to make it,” Patterson said. “Then we were rescued by an American destroyer in the gulf.”
The family eventually made it to Chicago, and the first thing Maria’s mom said she was able to get her kids in the U.S. was pajamas. This inspired her to donate pajamas to kids in need.
“It makes me emotional because I know she is manipulating things from above. The agencies, they’re so open, they’re so grateful, and that’s what I’m feeling. The gratitude surrounding that, and my mom.”