Pajama Drive Benefits Needy Kids

The wicker barrel dedicated to the pajama drive at City Ventures Residences is already overflowing with brightly colored, fuzzy night clothes.

City Ventures Residences, which is developing the Scotts Valley Town Center Collection on Blue Bonnet Lane, organized the pajama drive this month to benefit youth in need in Santa Cruz County.

Amanda Fielding, the marketing manager, said she had wanted to hold a pajama drive in the past and was finally able to do with with City Ventures.

"Everyone gives during Christmas. I just wanted to kick it off," Fielding said.

City Ventures Residences will match any pajama donation one-for-one, up to 50 pairs of jammies. Donations can be for any age of child—some people forget that foster kids often are teenagers—and should be warm.

"October is the start of the danger season, when it gets colder," Fielding said.

In addition to the pajama drive with at City Ventures, Club One will hold a Pajama Zumba class the evening of Oct. 30. Class participants are encouraged to wear pajamas, and also bring donations for kids.

All of the pajamas collected in October will be given to kids in foster care in Santa Cruz County. Drop off donations in the sales office at 237 Blue Bonnet Ln.

"Obviously, we want to give back to the community and also promote what we're doing here," Fielding said.

Across the county, people are donating pajamas to kids in need this month. The Pajama Project took in hundreds of pairs of pajamas at Twin Lakes Church. Judge Ariadne Symons launched Project Pajamas in 2007 and, since then, the program has donated more than 4,000 pairs of pajamas to Santa Cruz County children in need. That includes homeless children living in shelters, youth in foster care and those in transitional housing.