Woodbury Junior Girl Scouts Pajama, Book Collection Exceeds Goal

Woodbury Junior Girl Scout Troop 50174 recently collected 310 pairs of pajamas, 350 books and almost $100 for Pajama Program, a national organization that provides sleepwear and books to children in need.

The troop’s goal was 500 new pajamas and books, which they easily bested by collecting 660 items. The pajamas and books will be given to Minnesota charities that work with children in crisis. The collection is part of the service project requirement for earning the Bronze Award, the highest award a Junior Girl Scout can achieve.

“We are so proud of the girls,” Laurie Barthol, co-leader of Troop 50174, said in a statement. “They worked really hard putting this event together and it paid off. The girls far exceeded their goal of 500 books and pajamas. Part of their excitement comes from what they accomplished but they are also thrilled to have done something to help others.”

Over a two-week period, Jan. 17-31, pajamas and books were collected from drop boxes at businesses and churches in Woodbury and Cottage Grove. Some of the pajamas and books came from other Girl Scout Troops who attended a Pajama Party put on by Troop 50174; the party was another part of the requirements for the Bronze Award.

“Troop 50174 would like to thank the businesses and schools in the Woodbury and Cottage Grove area who let us put our drop boxes at their locations,” said Bath Tollefson, co-leader of the Troop. “The girls would not have had such a successful campaign if it were not for the people of the community, as well as family and friends, who donated the pajamas and books.”

Pajama Program was founded in 2001 by a New York woman who noticed children in shelters and group homes sleeping in their clothes because they didn’t own a pair of pajamas.

For more information about the collection or Troop 50174, contact Bratland at katie.bratland@comcast.net or 612-270-1455.