Jammies generosity in tough times

Gifts of warm nightwear, as well as socks, blankets and beanies came wrapped up with a red ribbon in the Jammies 4 June initiative. With one of the packs are founder Cassandra Blumfield (back left) and Kaiako Rosemary Brown with children, from left, Jack Stella, Tom Ostler, Harper Dear and Kevin Huang, at the Stella Maris Childcare Centre. Picture supplied

A record number of pyjamas were donated to Jammies 4 June Gizzy this year with around 2000 items being collected on behalf of the charity.

Cassandra Blumfield, who started the pyjama drive here seven years ago to support children in need to keep warm over winter, said she was surprised and delighted by the generosity shown by the Gisborne community this year.

“After all the hardship Gisborne has endured with Cyclone Gabrielle and other weather events I wasn’t expecting to collect as much this year. I’ve just been blown away by how people have got behind this and want to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated or volunteered.”

Jammies 4 June Gizzy had several collection points for donations throughout Gisborne,  at Blue House Computing, Health 2000 Ballance Street, Stihl Shop, The Beauty Depot and Awapuni School.

“I also want to say a big thank you to Awapuni School who, for the second year, let us use one of their classrooms to store the pyjamas in.

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“The whole school community has been so supportive, helpful and welcoming.

“We will need to find a new space next year though so we’re on the look out for a suitable storage space and possible funding for a space.”

In addition to pyjamas, they also collected socks, blankets, and beanies as well as a lot of cash donations.

The cash donations meant Cassandra could go out and buy the types and sizes of pyjamas that were needed.

Businesses, schools and early childhood services came up with creative ways to raise money from pyjama days at schools to Integrity Barbershop donating money for every cut they did in a day.

The Gisborne Road Pirates held a special breakfast for the club where everyone came along and donated to the drive.

“It’s been amazing — we truly are part of an incredible community,” Ms Blumfield said.

The pyjamas have now been distributed across Tairawhiti, East Coast and Wairoa, to places with the greatest need including schools, early childhood centres and through services such as Tuhono Whānau, SuperGrans and Turanga Health.

Jammies 4 June will continue taking cash donations throughout the year. Their account details are: Jammies 4 June Gizzy 01-0641-0112598-51