Winter heart warmers

Foster children throughout Marlborough will be able to go to bed each night wrapped in clothes made from community care as the Foster Hope Pyjama Drive returns.

Each year, the Foster Hope charity aims to supply each foster child in Marlborough with a new, warm set of pyjamas to help stave off the cold of winter nights and bring comfort sourced from the community.

Foster Hope Marlborough coordinator Leonie McLauchlan says new cotton or flannelette pyjamas of all sizes and styles will be welcomed and well-loved by their local recipients.   “Some people supply slippers or singlets, and as much as they’re appreciated, we can’t give every child one so it’s just an easier ask for cotton or flannelette pyjama sets.

“Kids of all ages and genders are in need in our foster home systems, and cotton pyjamas are more user-friendly and health conscious than something like polar fleece.”

Leonie says that having pyjama sorting piles take over her lounge each autumn is a little act of service that brings her such immense joy.

“As an organisation supplying social services, we’re grateful to have a generous population here in Marlborough willing to provide these little gifts that help so much.

“We haven’t counted how many we receive as they come to us in dribs and drabs, so we just sort them and celebrate the size of the piles at the end.”

Donations for the Foster Hope Marlborough Pyjama Appeal can be dropped into the Marlborough Weekly office at 52 Scott Street, Blenheim.