Drive now on for pajama project
If you are out holiday shopping in the next week, consider throwing a pair of kid’s pajamas in your cart, and donating them to a unique local charity.
Local residents Cathy and husband Allan Parvey (of Parvey & Frankel Law Firm fame) have made it a personal mission to see that more than 1,000 children get soft, comfy pajamas this holiday season. In fact, they want to double that goal.
They call it the “My Town” Holiday Pajama Drive, something they started three years ago, to give children in need, in our own area, pajamas.
“When I was growing up, it was more than nice to be tucked into bed with a comfy pair of pajamas,” said Cathy Parvey.
When she and husband Allan were traveling three years ago north, they heard on the radio of a pajama drive, and she thought, “That was interesting.”
When she got home, she contacted numerous local non- profit organizations and was told the need was great.
“I was shocked by how many agencies wanted pajamas,” she said.
Last year they collected 911 pairs.
“I keep track,” she said. From the more than eight local agencies with which she works, she keeps charts and folders of who needs what, and tries to spread out the donations. Again, her goal is twice that this year.
It is a lot of work – coordinating who needs what size, where and when, but it is her personal mission.
Her husband Allan Parvey is part of the cause.
“We’ve been doing this for three years, in hopes that when the economy is down, we can give back. It is comfort for families who don’t have the means to provide for comfort right now,” he said.
He also noted, “Unfortunately, there is more in need than we anticipated years ago with the economy – if it takes 10 years to do this (the drive) we will do it for 10 years.”
Parvey’s firm has helped to offset low donations with the help of the Rotary Club of North Fort Myers and the 4-H Country Club of East Fort Myers.
“We couldn’t make our goals without them,” Cathy said.
The reason they call it “My Town” she said, “All donations stay right here in Southwest Florida. Some of the agencies we work with are Nations Association, the Department of Children & Family Services/
Children’s Network, Cape Coral Caring Center, Alva’s Angels, Our Mother’s Home, Lifeline Family Center in Cape Coral and Lehigh Community Services.”
Cathy has a special deal with local retailers – a donation of only $5 can mean a new pair of pajamas.
“We are also looking for special needs children sizes 1 to 3X.”
You can donate from North Fort Myers to Cape Coral to Sanibel and Lehigh for the charity.