Yk rallies for PJ drive
Organizers still looking for other donations
including Polident, puzzles and toothpaste
Robin Grant
Northern News Services
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Two sisters are carrying on their late father's spirit of giving with a PJ clothing drive for seniors.
Jennifer Pagonis, left, and her sister Dianne Pagonis stand by the collection of pyjamas they will be donating to seniors in the community who are in need. In its second year, Pete's Annual Seniors Pajama Drive was created in memory of their late father, Peter Pagonis. - Robin Grant/NNSL photo |
When Peter Pagonis passed away in 2015, his daughters wanted to do something to remember him.
"Even though he was in his 70s, he would try to find things that seniors needed," said his daughter, Jennifer Pagonis.
"He had this desire to be helping people."
As a long-time Yellowknife resident, Peter was known for his passionate interest in city politics. According to a previous Yellowknifer article, in 1977, the city awarded him a framed photo of himself called "The Biggest S--- Disturber in Town" because he always had something to say to some city official.
He died from complications from diabetes in September 2015.
After his death, Jennifer and her sister Dianne Pagonis couldn't shake the memories they had of the seniors they saw all alone in the hospital while their father was getting treatment.
"We had a lot of experiences in the hospital where elders who came in had no family with them because they were from the communities or were flown in and had no family," Jennifer said.
"We thought, 'Hey, what can we do so that no senior is left behind, so that they can know that someone is thinking about them?'"
So the sisters started Pete's Annual Seniors Pajama Drive.
They asked the community to donate sleep-clothing of all sizes for seniors in need.
"When we started, we wanted to donate just to the Yellowknife Dementia Centre, but we had such an overwhelming response that we ended up sending to the Stanton Hospital as well," she said. "People are really excited to help us."
And there is no shortage of seniors in need. An estimated 1.3 million seniors in Canada currently suffer from chronic loneliness, according to the Canadian Psychological Association.
Social isolation has negative effects, according to the National Seniors Council.
It is considered a risk factor for elder abuse, including financial abuse and could increase fear of crime and theft, making seniors less likely to participate in social activities.
As of Dec. 17, the drive is complete. However, the sisters are still looking for miscellaneous items, such as Polident, puzzles that are 500 pieces or less, puzzle books, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
The drive has been so successful, the sisters said next year they plan to make the event more personalized for seniors.
Working with the Yellowknife Seniors' Society, the sisters plan to operate a drive that is similar to Adopt A Grandparent Christmas Cheer Up, a program run by the Calgary Seniors Resource Society where volunteers visit seniors' homes and bring with them a gift package of things their adopted senior needs.
Executive director of the Yellowknife Seniors' Society Kim Doyle said the drive is a great initiative and hopes it inspires people to think of others, including seniors, all year round - not just Christmas.
"It's a great way to spread love and get everybody involved," she added.
For the revamped PJ drive, the sisters plan to have Christmas tags with a senior's name and his or her PJ size and wish list.
"You can choose to pick up a tag and spoil that senior with what is on his or her wish list or you can still donate PJs and money and we will fill the tags that are left.
This way, a senior will not only get a new set of PJs but something they need and want," said Jennifer.
This year, the donated items will be dropped off at the Yellowknife Dementia Centre, the Extended Care Unit at Stanton Territorial Hospital and the Mary Murphy seniors' home.
