Annual Holiday Collection For Homeless Focuses on Sleepwear
Pajama Project will collect new sleepwear donations to benefit Friends of the Homeless and Gray House
Don Anderson, owner of the Cruise Store in East Longmeadow, places pajamas under the tree at his store. Additional Pajama Project collection locations include the St. Francis Chapel in Springfield and Tower Square’s City Walk Café on Wednesdays in December from 12pm-1:30pm.
SPRINGFIELD, MA (December 6, 2010) Father Jim Brennan, co-director of the St. Francis of Assisi Chapel, started the Pajama Project several years ago after hearing the compelling story of a third grade girl. Her teacher explained to Father Brennan, how the young girl said that she was unable to participate in “Pajama Day” because she didn’t have any pajamas. The girl also said that she often slept in her school clothes as a result.
“It was a real eye-opener learning this girl’s story and knowing that she is not alone,” said Brennan. “With the current economy, pajamas are a luxury item for many families because they chose to pay the rent and heating bill instead of buying sleepwear. It’s an aspect of poverty that wouldn’t occur too many of us.”
This is Don Anderson’s second year participating in a holiday collection for the homeless. Anderson, owner of The Cruise Store in East Longmeadow, collected personal care items for the homeless last year.
“Helping the homeless community is important because they‘re our neighbors,” stated Anderson. “A streak of bad luck and we could all be in that position.” He said donations have already started coming into his store and that they are running out of space under the Christmas tree to store all the pajamas.
The Pajama Project collection will run through January 7th and donations of clean, new sleepwear can be dropped off at the St. Francis Chapel in Springfield on weekdays from 10am-2pm, The Cruise Store in East Longmeadow on weekdays from 9am-5pm and on Saturday from 9:30am-12:30pm, and Tower Square’s City Walk Cafés on Wednesdays in December from 12pm-1:30pm.
About
The St. Francis of Assisi Chapel serves the community of downtown Springfield, MA. The chapel seeks to help area homeless by collecting sleepwear and personal care items. During the winter months, the chapel also serves as a homeless shelter.
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