Jammies in June: Armloads of cosiness

Nikki Newton, Joanne Hand and Ankita Luthra. Photo / Doug Sherring

A lot of pyjamas, blankets, woollen vests and other items to keep kids warm can be bought for $48,000.

Readers have been digging deep to help the Middlemore Foundation make sure needy children are warm this winter. As well as donating 6,276 pyjamas to the Jammies in June campaign, Kiwis have donated $48,000 — $8,000 over the original target — to buy pyjamas, blankets and other toasty sleepwear.

And three days still remain to help make a difference.

This week the Herald on Sunday, which has been working with the foundation, went shopping with, from left, Nikki Newton of Farmers, and foundation staff members Joanna Hand and Ankita Luthra. Their arms were soon full of flannelette PJs and fleece onesies.

The sleepwear came in spots, stripes and stars, or with soccer balls, hearts and robots. They came in every colour of the rainbow and are sure to bring smiles.

As well as donating pyjamas, Farmers sell bundles more to the foundation at a discounted price, Luthra said.

That meant money donated could go further than if people bought pyjamas themselves, she said.

Some of the most recent big donations came from a rollerskating club that was closing down and handed over the $2,000 left in its coffers.

It wasn't just corporates and clubs writing big cheques either. Individual donations had topped the $500 mark, Luthra said.

Hand said the campaign had gone "way beyond" expectations.

"People have been so generous. It's wonderful to stock up Kidz First and be able to give PJs to the children who need them."