Winter warm-up for Dannevirke children

Dannevirke children will sleep more warmly this winter thanks to the generosity of the community.

A project called Jammies for July has seen piles of winter pyjamas dropped into collection boxes around the district and delivered to Dannevirke Westpac this week.

But it's not just 75 pairs of pyjamas that have been donated, Westpac customer service representative Courtney Braush who, along with Michelle Walker, co-ordinated the project.

"We've been given 100 hand-knitted woollen beanies from the Red Cross and from people in the community as well as socks, bootees, scarves, dressing gowns and lots of blankets," says Courtney.

Sizes of clothing range from newborn up to size 12, and there are even a couple of pairs of adult-sized pyjamas.

Originally the campaign was Jammies for June and was the initiative of the Middlemore Foundation which found that children were being admitted to Kidz First hospital with preventable illnesses such as acute rheumatic fever, a disease usually only found in third world countries but prevalent in Counties Manukau.

Around 125,000 children live in Counties Manukau and of these children 54 per cent live in areas of high socio-economic deprivation.

So the campaign was launched and is now in its seventh year.

Westpac bank was quick to get on board as a sponsor.

Tararua midwife Cherry Lee originally brought the project to Dannevirke and has been collecting pyjamas for a few years.

This year Courtney and Michelle decided it was something they wanted to become involved with.

"We contacted Rangitane, Ngati Kahungunu and Tararua REAP to see if they were able to help to distribute the pyjamas as we have no idea who would need them. They were all keen to get involved," Courtney said.

Collection points were set up at New World, The Warehouse and Weber School and the pyjamas soon started piling up.

In past years The Warehouse has been a generous sponsor, donating 25 pairs of pyjamas.

The project has been so successful that Courtney says Westpac Dannevirke is keen to it on again in future.

"We'd like to make it an annual event because we have had such a great response," says Courtney.

Tararua REAP manager Claire Chapman the grateful recipients of the Jammies will not only be warmed by the fabric of their PJ's but their parents' hearts would be warmed by the generosity of this wonderful, caring community.

"We are thrilled to be able to support Westpac in helping ensure the donations get to those in need."