Reese Shelly is only nine years old but he’s old enough to know that not all children are as lucky as he is, especially at Christmas time.
So in 2010 he started the Christmas Pyjama Drive.
He appeared on the Sunday Morning News this past weekend to talk about his efforts.
“We wanted to share the experience with other kids who can get pajamas on Christmas Eve and be comfy in their pyjamas and wait for Santa,” says Reese.
Last year, after partnering with the Browns Restaurant Group, Reese and his family and friends were able to collect $45,000, or about 2,250 sets of pyjamas.
This year they also partnered with the social funding platform, Fundrazr, to reach a bigger audience.
Reese’s father Todd says every year the family would get pyjamas on Christmas Eve, and it was a few years ago Reese realized not every family is as lucky.
“Our goal the first year was 50,” says Todd, “and it just exploded.”
They now receive pyjamas from all across B.C. and other communities step in to help. Reese has even recruited ‘PJ’ ambassadors to help collect pyjamas in their schools.
This year the goal was 3,000 pyjamas and they were able to reach their target.
“This year on Christmas Eve the kids will get to open up a lot of pyjamas because of what the kids have achieved,” says Todd.
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