MBLC Blog

More than 7,000 PJs collected for Kids and Teens

Written by

Celeste Bruno

in

Young Bruins fan poses with Bruins Mascot Blades at a Boston Bruins PJ Drive event at the Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester
Staff at Swansea Library pose with Bruins Mascot Blades at PJ Drive Event
Staff at Swansea Library pose with Bruins Mascot Blades at PJ Drive Event

The 19th Annual Boston Bruins PJ Drive brought in a total of 7,364 brand new PJs for kids and teens in need across the Commonwealth! Library collections account for more than half: 3,958. Thank you, Libraries!

There were 93 groups participating this year; 58 of those groups were libraries.

The top three groups that collected the most donations were:

  • CBRE Group: 488 PJs
  • Choate, Hall and Stewart LLP: 390 PJs
  • Seekonk Public Library: 366 PJs
Caregiver and child sit comfortably and listen to Bruins Mascot Blades story time
Staff from Bridgwater Public Library pose with Ollie, the service dog, MBLC Director Maureen Amyot, Commissioner Debby Conrad, and representative from Cradles to Crayons at a Bruins PJ event.
Taylor Silva poses with Ollie and Ollie’s person Lieutenant Sandy Piccard, MBLC Commissioner Debby Conrad, MBLC Director Maureen Amyot, Blades, and staffer from Cradles to Crayons.

This year marks the 19th annual drive and the MBLC’s 17th year joining the Boston Bruins and Cradles to Crayons to collect pajamas for kids and teens in need. At any given time, the Department of Children and Families estimates that it’s working with estimated 40,000 babies, kids, and teens. Many of the pajamas collected go to DCF. MBLC staff joined Bruins family members at the Cradles to Crayons facility to sort and create clothes packages to be distributed to families in need.

PJ Parties with Bruins Mascot Blades were held at Swansea, Gloucester, and Bridgewater—thank you libraries for hosting these family fun events!

Swansea Free Library Director hugs Bruins Mascot Blades
Swansea Free Library Director hugs Bruins Mascot Blades

Former Bruins forward P.J. Axelsson and his wife, Siw, started the PJ Drive during the Boston Bruins 2007-2008 season as a way to give back to their community. The couple collected 1,600 pairs of pajamas for Cradles to Crayons which connects with social service agencies in Massachusetts to identify specific children in need.

Jenny Benedict, Director of the Sawyer Free poses with Bruins Mascot Blades and Senator Bruce Tarr
Jenny Benedict, Director of the Sawyer Free with Bruins Mascot Blades and Senator Bruce Tarr
Families sit together and listen to Bruins mascot Blades story time.

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