Ditch your work clothes for pyjamas this week to help kids in foster care

Moreton Bay businesses, community groups, schools and individuals are being asked to wear their favourite and comfiest pyjamas to work and in the classroom to help raise funds for children in foster care.

Friday, July 22 is the official date for National Pyjama Day, which is the Pyjama Foundation’s biggest annual fundraiser.

The not-for-profit organisation is hoping more people will register to wear their pj’s and donate ahead of the day.

Every dollar raised will go directly towards supporting the Foundation to recruit, screen and train committed volunteers who will become Pyjama Angels.

As part of the Pyjama Foundation’s Love of Learning Program, Pyjama Angels are volunteers who spend an hour a week with children living in care to improve their literacy and numeracy skills.

The Pyjama Foundation Founder and CEO Bronwyn Sheehan OAM said many vulnerable children in the foster care system are falling behind their classmates when it comes to literacy and numeracy.

"We know 35 per cent of Year 9 students in foster care do not achieve the national minimum standard for spelling," Bronwyn said.

"One in three children do not meet the minimum national standard for reading and 40 per cent do not meet minimum standards for numeracy.

“With the support of those in our community, The Pyjama Foundation can continue to support kids in care.”

If you are unable to host a Pyjama Day fundraiser this Friday, you can still rock your best sleepwear and get involved anytime in July, August or September.

Above: The Pyjama Foundation Founder and CEO Bronwyn Sheehan OAM. 

How your donation helps

Every donation helps The Pyjama Foundation to support more children by empowering them with learning, life skills and confidence so they can achieve their dreams.

A donation of $30 enables The Pyjama Foundation to provide brand new books for children in care.

A donation of $60 secures new educational resources such as learning activities, games, puzzles and more.

When $100 is donated, it helps The Pyjama Foundation to provide two training kits for two Pyjama Angel mentors (a vital kit they need to become a volunteer).

Lastly, $1000 provides a child in care with their very own Pyjama Angel mentor who will visit them each week and ignite a love for learning. 

Buy some new jarmies for the cause 

Earlier this year, retailer Myer pledged its support for The Pyjama Foundation by coming on board as a corporate partner.

Since April 4, Myer has been selling a unique pyjama set, with $5 from every sale of The Pyjama Foundation X Myer Pyjama set being donated directly to The Pyjama Foundation.

Above: Sesame Lane hosts a Christmas toy drive to collect gifts to give to children in foster care.

Local childcare centres to join in the fun

Each year, staff and children from Sesame Lane fundraise to raise as much money as they can for The Pyjama Foundation.

Sesame Lane Marketing Coordinator Tanya Ricketts said the company has been supporting The Pyjama Foundation since 2014.

"While all Sesame Lane Centres support different causes, National Pyjama Day is one that all of our centres participate in. We have many children enrolled with us at Sesame Lane who are in foster care, and it's important for us to support those children who might not have had the best start in life," Tanya said.

"We continue fundraising for The Pyjama Foundation so more children in foster care can receive the support they desperately need. 

"Without support, poor educational outcomes can lead to disengagement in school, mental health issues, unemployment in the future and poor life choices. 

"Sesame Lane have also in the past sponsored the Pyjama Angels training manual."

One of the biggest ways Sesame Lane helps the foundation is through a Christmas toy drive, which has been extremely successful. 

"Our children, families and businesses in our community donate new gifts for us to deliver to The Pyjama Foundation's head office each year in November," Tanya said.

"Volunteers sort and wrap the presents so every child in foster care can receive a gift suitable for their age. Every year we donate gift vouchers for JB Hi-Fi or Jay Jays for those hard-to-buy-for teenagers in foster care."

Other fundraising activities Sesame Lane is involved in include:

• Gold coin donations on annual Pyjama Day
• Pancake breakfasts on Pyjama Day (They generally raise about $500 each year at the Kippa Ring School Zone Centre alone)
• Sausage Sizzle with proceeds donated from open days
• $5 car wash with proceeds donated

More information about the foundation

The Pyjama Foundation was founded in 2004 to give children in foster care the opportunity to change the direction of their lives through learning, life skills, and confidence.

According to The Pyjama Foundation website, the not-for-profit organisation support 1300 children a week.

During this time, strong bonds and friendships are developed between the child and the Pyjama Angel, to help the child realise they are valued and loved.

Register today

For more information or to register and donate, visit www.nationalpyjamaday.com