Social Services Director Rileigh Blanchet, right, folds a pair of pajamas on Wednesday, Dec.13, as the Franklin County Children’s Task Force gathers up pajamas donated by the community for kids in need. Brian Ponce/Franklin Journal
FARMINGTON — The Farmington Rotary Club donated $1,000 to the Franklin County Children’s Task Force on Tuesday, Dec. 12, for the pajama drive. The money will be used to purchase brand new sets of pajamas for children in Franklin County.
The pajama drive, which is organized by the FCCTF with the help of the Farmington Rotary Club and the University of Maine Farmington, looks to distribute pajama to underprivileged children in the area and has been doing so for over 20 years according to its members.
“It’s just something that often slips through the cracks,” Barney Rubble of FCCTF said.
Starting in November, three drop off locations were available for locals to donate new, unwrapped pajama sized for newborn to 16-18 teen. Two were stationed at UMF, with Director of Student Leadership and Services Kirsten Swan in charge of organizing and orchestrating the pajama collection while the third drop off location was FCCTF’s office at 113 Church St.
Members of the Franklin County Children’s Task Force, the Farmington Rotary Club and UMF all pose with the $1,000 check on Wednesday, Dec 13. The money is being donated by the Rotary Club to the Children’s Task Force for additional pajamas for the pajama drive. Back left to right: Director of Student Leadership and Services Kirsten Swan, Barney Rubble and Social Services Director Rileigh Blanchet of FCCTF, Rotarian Kelsey Bickford and FCCTF Treasurer Marcus Rowe. Front left to right: Farmington Rotary Club President-Elect Kym Recco and Amber Doiron of FCCTF. Brian Ponce/Franklin Journal
According to Social Services Director Rileigh Blanchet, 176 pajamas were gathered from the drop off locations with an addition 90 sets purchased using the funds that were donated by the Rotary Club. Blanchet added that pajamas had to be new as FCCTF will not accept partially worn pajamas in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Along with the Children’s Festival, which is slated for Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, at Mt. Blue High School, the pajama drive is one of FCCTF’s longest running programs and Blanchet told The Franklin Journal the program fulfills a need that often goes overlooked.
‘We know that we live in one of the coldest states and wintertime is extremely tough for people in our area,” she said. “Sometimes we have to turn our heat down at night and kiddos need warm pajamas to be able to stay comfortable through the evenings.”
She added in an email that FCCTF also wanted to put emphasis on fostering protective factors within families.
“Through simple, everyday interactions, everyone can contribute to strengthening a family’s protective factors,” she said. “The project not only offers tangible support during challenging times but also enhances social connections within the community. Empowering families with the knowledge of where to seek assistance and ensuring they have the resources they need contributes to their overall resilience and strength.”
For more information on the program and other services offered by FCCTF, please visit their website fcctf.org or call them at [207] 778-6960.
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