David Kucera is a local businessman in Sumers, New Jersey who cannot turn a blind eye to the needs of children. Each autumn, David returns his favorite project known as Stuff a Bus to assist with his favorite charity work; the work of helping kids.

Stuff A Bus is a campaign conceived of and run by the local chapter of Pajama Program. Pajama program a non-profit organization that brings warm pajamas and books to needy children.

Kucera spent 7 years in foster homes and orphanages with his brother and has been homeless as well. Kucera knows firsthand the impact that something as simple as pajamas can have on a child.

The children that they help often have never had pajamas. They sleep in underwear and in strange beds. These kids spend most of the time being scared and lonely and the gift of pajamas is a welcome comfort. Many of the kids have been homeless or are on the fringes. They live in foster or group homes and often have little knowledge of family members.

Kyocera’s mother and father split up and neither was able to take care of their children. Eventually Kyocera’s father started a small bus company and Dave went to live with him and finished school. He then went to work for his Dad, learned the family business and took over when his father retired.

About 6 years ago he and his wife heard of the Pajama Program and fell in love with the idea. They started out donating money until 4 years ago when Dave donated use of a bus to go around and pick up donations. For the annual event they cheerily decorate the bus with pajamas and send it on a loop around the county for around a week or more.

The bus goes to elementary schools, churches, small businesses, stores and corporations. Each day, the bus is stacked full, front-to-back with donations for the kids. Kocera loves to ride along when he can, especially to the schools to watch the giving spirit of the kids. It is a gratifying site to see the kids at the schools because kids are so eager to help other children.

In October he expects to deliver 5000 pairs of pajamas and 2500 books. Dave says that when you see the smiles on the faces of the children it makes all the work worth while.

The Pajama program was started 10 years ago and now has 79 chapters in 42 states. Each chapter organizes its own pickups and deliveries to approved facilities.

All the work is done by volunteers and as of today, approximately 1 million pairs of pajamas and one-half million books have been given to needy children

Related news:

1. Ronald McDonald House Provides Housing For Children and Families
2. Starlight Children’s Foundation Helps Sick and Injured Kids around the Globe