Meet Glenda!
Introducing ‘Our Foundation Family’ – a new series helping you get to know the team behind The Pyjama Foundation. We sit down with our members of our team and get to know them.
We are starting our new content series off with the wonderful Glenda. Glenda is part of our Program Support team. We asked the team to describe Glenda in one word and here’s what we received:
We asked Glenda the hard-hitting questions so you can get to know her. Here’s her responses:
Who are you and what do you do for PJ’s? How long have you worked for PJ’s?
My name is Glenda, I’ve been a PJ Angel with the same foster family for nearly 6 years, the two boys I started with are now 18 and 19, but that hasn’t halted the time we spend together. This amazing foster Mum has another child, who I’m now officially visiting because he wanted “his own Glenda!” This makes my heart smile.
I’ve also been working in Program Support at PJ’s Head Office for nearly a year, part time, and loving it.
I’m also helping to build our online resources and I’m one of the trainers for our new, wonderful volunteer PJ Angels.
What is your biggest achievement at PJ’s?
Placing PJ Angels with a child gives so much satisfaction and sense of achievement, hoping that another child in care is going to get support from and build a long lasting relationship with one of our Angels.
What do you love about your job?
Everything – the work, the people. Experiencing first hand and knowing that what we do has such an fundamental impact on children in care.
Why did you apply to work at PJ’s?
I had completed a 5 year contract and my daughter in law wanted to return to work after the birth of my first granddaughter. I couldn’t think of anything better than giving retirement a try and looking after her. Then she started school and I thought “what now?” I wanted to give back and use my experiences for something that was making real differences in children’s lives.
The only place I really wanted to work was The Pyjama Foundation.
Kevin called me one day in early January 2020 to chat about training dates for the year and happened to mention a position that had been advertised. I applied and as they say, the rest is history!
What is your favourite quote?
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. Dr Seuss
Tell us a bit about your family
I have 3 wonderful children (1 girl and 2 boys), all grown up and 4 gorgeous grandchildren (3 girls and 1 boy) that I love to pieces.
What is your favourite part about being a Pyjama Angel?
Developing a lasting relationship with the children I visit. In the beginning I wondered how much impact we could make in 1 hour a week…. it’s extraordinary! It’s also impacted my life, a very positive and unexpected outcome all-round! As Steve Jobs said – “It’s really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.”
What is your favourite family tradition?
Designing and creating a Gingerbread house for Christmas with my oldest granddaughter. This Christmas will only be our fourth year, but it’s definitely become a tradition. One the whole family enjoys.
