This year’s Girl Scout Alumnae Silver Trefoil Pajama and Book Drive kicks off Wednesday. The big Christmas-themed boxes will be placed at recreation centers across The Villages.
The service project began in 2009 with the group, under the direction of Villager Mikki Blumberg, gathering 100 pair of PJs and distributing them to area homeless children.
“This year’s goal is 6,000 pair of pajamas and as many new books as the group can gather,” Blumberg said.
She said there are more than 6,000 homeless children in Lake, Marion and Sumter counties. Foster children and migratory children are included as homeless.
“These children own only the clothes on their backs – attending school and sleeping in the same clothes every day,” she said.
Homeless children don’t know where they will be sleeping each night – it could be a motel room, car, park bench or the forest, she said.
“A new pair of PJs allows them to sleep in something other than their school clothes. They tuck the PJs in their backpacks as they move from school to their sleeping place,” she said.
School children and their younger siblings are identified through the school counselors and nurses.
The Silver Trefoils partner with the United Way to distribute the pajamas and books just before the Christmas holiday.
Over the past years the Silver Trefoils have asked the help of Villagers to promote the drive and donate to help these children. Last year’s drive gathered 3,900 pair of pajamas, 5,500 books totaling a value of $59,000.00.
The Villages Recreation Department allows the Silver Trefoils to place collection boxes in each recreation center. Girl Scout Alumnae contact the members of social clubs to remind them of the need and ask for help.
“This year is no exception and we need everyone’s help,” Blumberg said.
All pajamas and books should be new.
