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It takes a village (or a North Queensland town…)

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PEOPLE need people. Especially during times of great hardship and adversity. As COVID-19 is a continued presence in Australia we continue to see more and more communities band together to create light from such darkness.

Annually, The Pyjama Foundation celebrates its biggest fundraising event, National Pyjama Day. This year, planning and preparation has looked so different for registrants as they work to make their events happen in and around government restrictions. However, one thing that hasn’t changed, is their fierce passion to support The Pyjama Foundations mission to make a difference to the lives of children in care.

Margaret Milani is a seasoned veteran as far as National Pyjama Day is concerned. Backed by her colleagues at The Commonwealth Bank and the wider Innisfail community, they have hosted the Innisfail Annual Pyjama Party for four years running.

Margaret says the support keeps growing each year. Margaret was confident that this year’s celebrations would defy all odds. “Due to the COVID crisis it has been easier than usual for people to see the benefits in having something like this in our community,” she said.

Teamwork was in full swing to get everything organized before the 24th of July. Margaret describing the process as ‘footwork’. With the help of her colleagues save the date flyers were created, the streets of Innisfail were walked to get business’ onboard and the locals were informed via social media.

There was overwhelming support from local business and their customers in and around the Owen St precinct. The Commonwealth Bank, Woolworths, Optus, the Mellick Homemakers Centre, Retreat Beauty salon and the Sapore Di Italia café were among the many passionate registrants. A true reflection of community spirit!

We warmly thank these businesses and their customers for their generous participation and contribution.

“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about!” – Margaret J. Wheatley.

Margaret sees the opportunity to celebrate National Pyjama Day each year as way to unite and contribute to a cause that the community considers so special. “I cannot even begin to put into words how amazing it feels to help kids in your own community and to just be part of something bigger than yourself and your own problems.”

The 2020 Innisfail Annual Pyjama Party had its largest turnout yet, raising an outstanding $2,600! The Pyjama Foundation is so grateful for your continuous passion, enthusiasm and generosity. We just know 2021 will be bigger and better!

Meet Zoe: Creating a Brighter Future for Kids in Care

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This is Zoe. Not only is she a Pyjama Angel, visiting a little 10 year old boy, she has also signed up for Pyjama Day and has created her own fundraising page – managing to gain support from her workplace to raise much needed funds for kids in foster care! We spoke to Zoe to know why she signed up and why it matters to her.

 

Why did you decide to sign up for Pyjama Day?
I signed up for Pyjama Day because I realised I could help. I knew I’d at least generate some interest among my friends and family, but also thought I could try and go one further and get the OK to fundraise more broadly in my workplace. I did this by stealing 5 minutes in my Executive Managers weekly meeting and walking into said meeting in my dressing gown and slippers. I then proceeded to tell them the story of my friend J* and how he and many other children are in these situations through no fault of their own, but there’s things we can do to help.

 

Are you planning to do anything exciting in particular on the day? Like a Bake Sale or morning tea?
I have made it very simple. Wear your dressing gown or slippers to work for a gold coin donation. This is simple enough that anyone can do it – even in a corporate environment, as it is easy to change bank into corporate attire for meetings! But it still sends a powerful message and gets peoples attention. It’s also a bit of fun and such a great idea in the middle of winter! Little did I know that I’d also receive support from colleagues offering to make food and sell it as part of the fundraiser. It all starts with an idea!

What made you sign up to become a Pyjama Angel?
I wanted to contribute more as a human being. I thought, have an hour I can spare each week and I can read!” Something so small can mean a lot to people, particularly those who don’t have the support we often take for granted.

 

What’s it like being a Pyjama Angel and can you describe your placement with the child?
I have been paired with my little buddy, 10-year-old J*. J is in residential care, which means he really doesn’t have much consistency when it comes to the people that are in his life.  J likes dinosaurs, transformers, Lego and make believe. Like many kids with autism, he has trouble with his communication (which is where I come in). We have only had 5 visits so far, but we’re already at the stage where he comes running out to greet me with a big smile when I arrive. I can tell that he enjoys our visits and it is definitely the most rewarding part of my week.

 

You can support Zoe and help her reach her fundraising goal of $500 by donating here or you can sign up your workplace for Pyjama Day by heading towww.nationalpyjamaday.com