Libraries Help Collect Pajamas for Children in Need
January 31, 2019
Matthew Perry
Outreach Coordinator
1-800-952-7403 x240
matthew.s.perry@state.ma.us
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) continues its partnership with the Boston Bruins for the 12th Annual PJ Drive to benefit DCF Wonderfund and Cradles to Crayons. The Boston Bruins PJ Drive runs from February 1, 2019 through March 15, 2019. Libraries across the Commonwealth will be collecting new pairs of pajamas for babies, children, and teens.
“Pajamas are an essential item for children in transition and there is a constant need for PJs at our DCF field offices,” said Jennifer Kitchenham, Executive Director of the Wonderfund. “The PJs that DCF receives through the Boston Bruins PJ Drive are delivered directly to the kids by their social workers, helping to provide warmth and comfort in a time of uncertainty for a child.”
The MBLC works with the Boston Bruins to coordinate library participation in the drive. This year’s drive has over 130 participating public, school, and academic libraries from around the state that use the Massachusetts Library System’s delivery service—typically used to send books and other library materials—to send their PJs to the regional sorting centers which increases libraries’ ability to participate in the drive. To find participating libraries, visit the MBLC website.
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 to give back to their community. The couple collected 1,600 pairs of pajamas for Cradles to Crayons which connects with social service agencies to identify specific children in need.
In 2017, the drive expanded to benefit DCF’s Wonderfund. DCF estimates that at any given time the agency is working with 50,000 babies, children and teens. DCF’s participation helps ensure that PJs stay in the area in which they were collected, benefitting local kids and teens. First Lady of the Commonwealth Lauren Baker will help celebrate this year’s drive with an event at the Lawrence Public Library on February 21 at 1:30pm.
The goal of this year’s drive is to collect 12,000 pairs of pajamas, with libraries collecting 10,000 of the total. The public can get involved by bringing new pajamas to a local library and donating them to the drive.
For more information, please visit libraries.state.ma.us.
About MBLC
The Board of Library Commissioners (mass.gov/mblc) is the agency of state government with the statutory authority and responsibility to organize, develop, coordinate and improve library services throughout the Commonwealth. The Board advises municipalities and library trustees on the operation and maintenance of public libraries, including construction and renovation. It administers state and federal grant programs for libraries and promotes cooperation among all types of libraries through regional library systems and automated resource sharing. It also works to ensure that all residents of the Commonwealth, regardless of their geographic location, social or economic status, age, level of physical or intellectual ability or cultural background, have access to essential new electronic information technologies and significant electronic databases.