It’s time to get cozy.
The annual Pajama Drive is underway for the holiday season.
And the giving is contagious.
In addition to the regular Jammie Drive in front of the Langley WalMart on Dec. 3 and 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Langley Rivermen and Vancouver Giants will accept donations at two games.
Organizer Mary Lou Robertson said the teams were so helpful.
“I just called them” and they jumped on board, she said.
First up is the Nov. 27 game at the George Preston Recreation Centre at 2 p.m. when the Langley Rivermen will try to make the Vernon Vipers uncomfortable while making many local kids comfy. The Rivermen also took part in last year’s Jammie Drive.
The Langley-based Vancouver Giants are getting in the game, with a Jammie Drive at their game Dec. 2 in the Langley Events Centre at 7:30 p.m.
The PJ fairy and her helpers (her kids, their friends and family friends) help at the games and the WalMart event.
“Everybody’s so nice,” Robertson said. “Little old ladies come with their pajamas.”
She asks that people don’t wrap the jammies so they can be sorted based on size and gender.
The collected PJs go to the Langley Christmas Bureau. PJs and donations are accepted. Robertson noted that jammies right up to adult sizes are needed for older kids who can be as big as adults.
The campaign began with a nurse at HealthLinkBC, who wanted all children and teens to have new pajamas for the holiday season, regardless of their family’s financial situation.
Robertson took over when the founder retired in 2013. Three years ago, she figured she’d try a public Jammie Drive.
In 2014, 436 pairs of pajamas were donated. Almost 500 were collected last year
Again this year, Z95.3, a Vancouver radio station, will be playing music at the WalMart event. Langley’s Jammie Drive has inspired others, including a Surrey restaurant and a dance school to hold pajama collection events.
(Left to right) Hope Blair, Alexis Haugen, Maddy Haugen and Jasmine Robertson are some of the Jammie Drive helpers.