“The idea that kids did not have pyjamas is hard to forget.”

Elizabeth Mabie
Spur Ottawa Writer

With winter arriving, warm clothing is in greater demand—especially for kids growing up in difficult circumstances. Family Radio CHRI has partnered with Pyjama Patrol for their annual Christmas pyjama drive, to collect and distribute comfortable children’s nightwear to hospitals, shelters, and low-income schools across the region.

“A simple pair of pyjamas gives a child warmth, comfort, peace, security, dignity, and hope. What other kind of donation does that for so little?” asks Pyjama Patrol founder Jennifer Muckler.

The Christmas pyjama collection this year began on November 15 and runs until December 20. Designated drop-off sites are set up at RE/MAX offices, Cardel Homes offices, Kiddie Kobbler in Barrhaven and Stittsville, the Sports Medicine Centre, Fab Baby Gear, and Carlingwood Shopping Centre.

Hoping to haul in more donations at the very end, the team is hosting a “blitz” event at Carlingwood’s food court in the early afternoons of December 18 to 20. CHRI’s Fun Team will be on site hosting a draw for gift cards and receiving new pajama donations.

“Our wish is to continue to educate people about this need and to grow so we can help more people each year.” Photo courtesy of Pyjama Patrol.

This is the first year Pyjama Patrol and CHRI collaborated. Pyjama Patrol runs their operation all year long, while CHRI holds their drive during the holiday season aiming to deliver the donations in time for Christmas. With the same goal in mind it was an easy decision for the two organizations to join forces this year.

“They have such an amazing, hard-working team, so we knew they’d be a big help with distribution and facilitating the demands that come with running a pyjama drive,” explains Care Baldwin, CHRI’s promotions director.

Muckler formed Pyjama Patrol in 2015, after helping with a charity fundraiser. Having met and worked with families in need, she soon discovered that several children from the community did not have proper sleepwear.

Combined, the organizations have distributed more than 27,000 pairs of pyjamas! Photo courtesy of Pyjama Patrol.

“The idea that kids did not have pyjamas is hard to forget, especially when you have your own [kids] and you see how important pyjamas are to them and how much comfort they bring,” says Muckler.

Muckler’s friends jumped on board with her idea, helping advertise the initiative through a local newspaper and by handing out pyjamas in Kanata Food Cupboard hampers. Within four weeks, Muckler and her team received over 1,000 pairs of children’s pyjamas. Five years later, Pyjama Patrol has distributed over 15,000 pairs of pyjamas. Combined with CHRI’s donations from the past six years, the organizations have distributed more than 27,000 pairs of pyjamas!

“Our wish is to continue to educate people about this need and to grow so we can help more people each year,” says Muckler. “This need will never go away. We will always have work to do.”

“At CHRI we find joy in the fact that we have a small part in helping our listeners bring comfort and security to kids in need,” Baldwin states “God is working in the region through our listeners, through CHRI, and through Pyjama Patrol’s reach, to give people an avenue to make a difference.”