Sunshine Ridge Retirement Residence manager Tracy Harfman (left) and program founder Connie Osachoff hold up some of the pyjamas that have already been donated to Osachoff’s Pyjama Drive. (Michele Weisz photo)
Every autumn for 13 years, Connie Osachoff has collected pyjamas so that Osoyoos’ disadvantaged children, up to age 12, can receive a pair of them at Christmas.
The pyjamas, which must be new, can be dropped off at the Sunshine Ridge Retirement Residence in Osoyoos. This year, for the first time, pyjamas can also be dropped off at Valley First Credit Union in Oliver.
The tags are taken off and the pyjamas are placed into clear bags and then taken to Osoyoos Elementary School where they are distributed to children in need throughout School District 53.
“They give them to those families as like a little Christmas present to put under the tree,” said Osachoff.
Osachoff said that the pyjamas are intentionally left unwrapped so that parents can wrap them themselves.
“We give the choice to the parents to wrap them how they want,” she said.
Osachoff said that every Christmas when she was little, she received a package from her aunts containing a pair of hand-made pyjamas.
“Every year we knew what was in it but it was the most exciting Christmas present to open,” she said.
Thirteen years ago, Osachoff decided that she wanted to give back to the town of Osoyoos.
She said to her friend Marlene: “Everybody’s collecting socks and scarves and toques and mitts…I’d like to do something different for the community.”
Her friend suggested pyjamas. “So we started the pyjama drive,” she said.
“Pyjamas keep you warm and cuddly,” Osachoff said.
But, she explained, for parents who are struggling, if there is a choice between spending their money on a pair of pyjamas for their child or spending it on food, they will choose to buy food.
The drive proved to be a success.
“It’s so successful I have people, they’re stopping my husband on the street all the time, ‘is Connie still doing the pyjama drive? I gotta go get my pyjamas.’”
The popularity of the yearly drive convinced Osachoff to continue with it even after she relocated to the Sunshine Ridge Retirement Residence. The residents and staff there have been very supportive of Osachoff’s endeavours.
“When she said that this is what she would like to do, this is what she’s always been doing prior to coming here, we said absolutely, keep doing it,” said Manager Tracy Harfman.
Sunshine Ridge Retirement Residence provides the clear bags for the pyjamas.
“We provide her with materials…I guess you could say we partnered with Connie because this was her program, we didn’t start this,” said Harfman.
The residents help out as well.
“I have a group of ladies in here that help me. I have two ladies cutting the labels off, two ladies folding, two ladies bagging, two ladies writing down what sizes,” said Osachoff.
Osachoff said that as long as the program is working, she will continue to do it every year. “I’m a firm believer in helping at home… home is where it starts and if I can help a few people here at home, it makes me feel really good.”
Donations of new, unused pyjamas for children up to age 12 will be accepted at both Sunshine Ridge Retirement Residence in Osoyoos and Valley First Credit Union in Oliver until Dec. 10.
MICHELE WEISZ
Osoyoos Times
