REJOICE FOR JAMMIES
Local pyjama project a community tradition for those unable to afford it
Carrie Lee's family loves cosy pyjamas at Christmas so much, they want to help others enjoy the same experience.
In 2017, Lee and her family launched Lola's Pajama Fairy Project to share the holiday tradition of new Christmas jammies by collecting and distributing them to charities across Windsor-essex.
Lee said the idea for the project came about when her granddaughter Lola was born. The tradition in Lee's home is to give a new pair of pyjamas to every child in the family on Christmas Eve.
When Lola received her pair of Christmas pyjamas, Lee's husband, Martin Denonville, accompanied it with a story he wrote called Janice the Pajama Fairy, which has since been turned into a book. In the story, a fairy named Janice makes a pair of pyjamas for other fairies, including one named Otis who is always cold.
Inspired by Denonville's story, Lee's family started collecting pyjamas for other children who might also enjoy the tradition but couldn't necessarily afford it.
“The project just touches a lot of people because it's so familiar,” Lee said. “Lots of people have that tradition in their families at Christmastime that they get a new pair of pyjamas. So we're contributing a nice pair of warm cosy pyjamas for those that may not otherwise get them.”
Lee's initiative is in its fourth year and has already donated almost 1,000 pairs of pyjamas to newcomers in Canada and families in local shelters. Lola's Pajama Fairy Project collected 620 pairs of pyjamas last year alone, donating them to local charities such as Matthew House, Hiatus House, the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women and the Windsor Essex Children's Aid Society.
Genevieve Isshak, clinical director of residential and community services for Hiatus House — an emergency shelter for women and children escaping domestic violence — appreciates the donation. She considers local initiatives such as Lola's Pajama Fairy Project particularly important during the holiday season and a global pandemic.
“COVID-19 has created safety risks for women,” Isshak said. “In the last couple of months, we've seen an increase in calls because the violence has increased — because being home if you're in an abusive relationship is not safe.”
Isshak said the pyjamas are helpful for so many women and children “who are fleeing domestic violence and come from nothing.”
For Lee, the support that Lola's Pajama Fairy Project receives from other Windsor-essex residents keeps her going.
“Our community is just so generous,” Lee said. “I think because of this year — it's such a hard year — and so it's that much more meaningful.”
Lola's Pajama Fairy Project is hoping to collect the majority of sleepwear by Dec. 6. Residents wishing to donate a pair of Christmas pyjamas can drop them off at three locations: the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 255 at 5645 Wyandotte St. E., the Nguyen Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Centre at 1918 Wyandotte St. E., and Physiofit at 4510 Rhodes Dr. Unit 940.
Lee and Denonville have also set up a donation box on their porch at 821 Fairview Blvd.