http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-905182.mp3
Lee County, IA – Wayne Marple with Fort Madison Rotary Club says his organization will join forces with Keokuk Rotary Club to conduct a local pajama drive. He says the goal is to collect 500 brand new pairs.
"We have, right now, almost 100 collected," Marple said, "and that was before the drive event started. Word just got around and people started donating pajamas. I would love to break the 500 barrier."
Marple says Kelly Sargent approached Fort Madison Rotary Club about getting involved in Helen's Pajama Party. He says the entire organization agreed to join in immediately.
Marple says shelters in Keokuk and Burlington will be stocked first. He says the rest of the pajamas will be shipped around the state.
Drop-off locations in Keokuk and Fort Madison include State Central Bank, HyVee, and the YMCA's.
Sue Prochazka with the Tri-State Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse says a drive like this shows how much a community cares. She says a spin-off of this is that other donations to women's shelters increase.
Prochazka says her organization needs money, due to budget cuts at the state level. She says used cell phones are also a major donation for shelters.
Wayne Marple would like the pajama drive to become an annual event between the Fort Madison and Keokuk Rotary Clubs. He says pajamas will be collected through the month of June.