After so many lockdowns, we’re pretty used to wearing our pyjamas while we work – so this National Pyjama Day on July 22, the crew at Gisborne’s Commonwealth Bank (CBA) branch are going to be right at home.
National Pyjama Day is a chance for people to get into their snuggliest jimjams to help The Pyjama Foundation raise money and awareness for kids in foster care, and to better understand the struggles they face.
The organisation’s Love of Learning program uses volunteers called Pyjama Angels, who are matched with a child in care to spend an hour a week focusing on learning-based activities.
Only 180 of 8000 kids in out of home care services in Victoria have their own Pyjama Angel.
CBA central Victoria relieving branch manager Marg Milani is bringing her love for Pyjama Day down from Queensland and can’t wait to see the Gisborne office all decked out.
“[In Queensland] we’ve been doing it for a number of years and we ended up getting this great community support. People would walk into the bank [and ask] ‘Why are you wearing your pyjamas’, and we’d tell them the story,” Ms Milani said.
“If a group of people can wear pyjamas to work to raise money, why wouldn’t you do that.”
She said Pyjama Day was important for encouraging difficult conversations.
“It’s all about just having a fun day and raising awareness of a massive need that unfortunately is growing in our community.
Elsie Lange
