9-year-old turns bedtime thoughts into action with pillow drive for homeless

By CNN Newsource

Published March 20, 2025 12:45 PM

By Felicity Taylor

SCENERY HILL, Pennsylvania (WTAE) — Ty Kolonsky’s mom, Jill, said it was one of those nights — her 9-year-old resisting bedtime.

“He kind of, like, looked up at me like, ‘I have a problem.’ And I’m like, OK. And he’s, you know, you’re kind of bracing yourself,” Jill said

Ty explained, “I had three pillows, and the homeless had none. When we’re going through the streets of Pittsburgh, we see a whole bunch of homeless people. And I think of all the stuff they don’t have.”

Ty couldn’t donate used pillows but was determined to help

“I took my money, and I went and bought two pillows. And my dad said, ‘Whatever you buy, I’ll double it. So, he bought four, and my nana offered to buy six. So, we got nine total. And so then, so then I took those, and my mom thought we were done. I told her no. So, like a couple nights later, I told her to put out on Facebook,” Ty said.

Jill and her husband Kevin are in awe. “You’re just so thankful because we’re very real with the kids and talk with them about the things that they see and the things they experience. And for him to come up with that idea on his own, it was just incredible,” she said.

After spreading the word at school, church, and his 4H group, Ty’s collection grew exponentially. The total now is 129 pillows, 68 pillowcases and four blankets.

Saturday, Ty will host a pillow exchange with residents of the Saint Joseph House of Hospitality in Pittsburgh’s Crawford-Roberts neighborhood.

“The guys feel super appreciated, and they can connect to other human beings, which for them is a big thing. Many of them have cut all ties and burned all bridges. So to have somebody caring about them is a really big thing. And then, of course, it’s just the comfort of having your own brand-new pillow. For some of us, that’s a quick trip to the store. But for them, that’s a huge luxury,” said Susan Rauscher, CEO of Catholic Charities.

Donations are still being accepted, and anyone who wants to contribute can email tyspillows@gmail.com.

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