A non-profit organization has grown from donating 150 pairs of pajamas to shelters for women to giving out more than 9,000 pairs across the state of Iowa.

By Sarah Beldo
November, 2009

After experiencing an unseasonably cold October in 2007, Kelly Sargent wanted to find a way to spread warmth, faith and hope [1] to other women in Iowa.

So on New Year's Eve of that year, Sargent collected pajamas from her friends and family, brought them to a Des Moines shelter and provided a VCR so the women could celebrate the upcoming new year with a pajama party.

It was later called Helen's Pajama Party [2], named after Sargent's late mother who was reportedly in an abusive relationship and died when Sargent was 6 years old.

"The picture I'd had in my head from the start of Helen's Pajama Party [2] was of a woman entering a shelter and being able to choose something nice for herself that suited her in taste, size, style and color," Sargent said. "I wanted that simple act of self-declaration and self-care to remind her that she has the right to make choices that reflect her worth and uniqueness."

The pajamas come with store tags as well as a personalized message like, "Many people are pulling for you."