Right now, BUSINESS buddy is ditching the workstations and going into battle with the Jammies Army – collecting pyjamas for children in the care of Kidz First hospital.
“The BUSINESS buddy team can’t bear the thought of any child becoming sick due to being cold at bedtime,” says CEO Kirsten Hawke.
“Winter is here in full force, and the wet and cold weather is a stark reminder of how spine tingling chilly things can get in Auckland.
“Many families can flick on the heat pump, throw another log on the fire or pop on the electric blanket but many local children suffer in damp and cold homes.
“By donating pyjamas to Middlemore Foundation’s Jammies in June campaign, we can all help local kids stay warm and they are less likely to be admitted to hospital.”
Each year, about 320 children are admitted to Kidz First in January but that jumps to more than 700 in August. Warm youngsters are less likely to fall sick or need hospital care for preventable illnesses such as acute rheumatic fever, a disease usually only found in developing countries but prevalent in Counties Manukau. In Auckland South there are about 125,000 children under the age of 15 and 54 per cent of these children live in the most impoverished conditions.
BUSINESS buddy is collecting new, winter-weight pyjamas for babies and children up to the age of 18 years.
Kidz First often receives lots of pyjamas for younger children and this year the Jammie Army needs pyjamas for children aged 12 to 18 years.
If you can donate something snuggly to keep a young Kiwi warm during winter, please drop off pyjamas to BUSINESS buddy HQ, 35 Allens Road, East Tamaki.
“Let’s help the Jammies Army conquer preventable illness.”