BY EILEEN PERSIKE
Editor
Pelican Elementary school students in Rhinelander are working to make this holiday season a little cozier for children throughout the United States. Together with Scholastic Reading Club, second grade teacher Megan Biscobing initiated a pajama drive that began in her classroom and soon went school wide. Scholastic will pair a new book with every new pajama set or nightgown the school collects.

“I thought, what a great way to empower my students to give this holiday season,” Biscobing said. “The image of a fireplace, new pajamas and a bedtime story is comforting.”

The items will be donated to children and teens in homeless shelters, orphanages, foster care and group homes throughout the country.

“We’ve got two boxes out there,” said second grade student Taylor Dahquist. “They’re getting pretty full.”

Since 2009, Scholastic has donated almost half a million pairs of pajamas. So far in 2016, nearly 10,000 pairs have been counted which doesn’t include Pelican’s.

Kadin Rodziczak said he liked the idea of the Scholastic Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive right away.

“I like that we get to give books and pajamas to homeless people,” he explained.

PJs will be collected through Dec. 15, which happens to also be the day of the school’s holiday concert at Rhinelander High School. Biscobing said they will bring the boxes along to the high school to collect any last minute donations. Taylor said she and her brother each donated to the cause.

“It’s nice to see that we got so many pajamas,” said Taylor. “And, that we can give kids in need a nice cozy pair of pajamas and a book.”

Guidelines for pajama donations
-Must be new
-All sizes from newborn to adult
-Pajamas must be complete sets or nightgowns
-Children’s sizes must be manufactured as pajamas to ensure they are flame-retardant and safe.

Donations are accepted at Pelican Elementary School through Dec. 15 or may be brought to the holiday concert Dec. 15 at Rhinelander High School.