Local woman behind effort to collect Christmas pajamas for Capital Region kids

It’s the season of giving, and that’s something Lynn Fraim from Green Island takes very seriously.

Fraim is collecting Christmas pajamas for children in need across the Capital Region. For Fraim, it was always a tradition for her and her mother to help people in need around the holidays.

“I think of my mom while I’m doing this and it’s very near and dear to me,” Fraim said. “She passed away a few years ago and I wanted to do something in honor of her.”

She created what she calls “Christmas Pajamas,” an effort to give kids in need a new, fresh pair of pajamas for Christmas. She is working to get her 501(c)(3) to become an official non-profit next year.

“When we first started this, it started very small, my intention was to help people from my community,” Fraim said. “My goal was 100 pairs, the first year we did 360.”

The second year, she collected 860. This year, her goal is to collect more than 1,000 pairs. Her friend, Julie Baker, is behind her every step of the way. She says every child should go to bed in and wake up in a new pair of Christmas pajamas.

“I just know, also being someone who had my Christmas pajamas to open on Christmas Eve, I know the joy that I felt,” Baker said. “I feel like its not only putting clothes on someone’s back, its bringing joy to the season.”

The pajamas will be distributed within the next few weeks. Fraim donates them to different organizations like the Ronald McDonland House and Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth. She also takes small, personal orders.

“A mom can message me and request’, I need a girl size 6 and boy’s size 12′ and I’ll have them ready for her to pick up at my house,” Fraim said.

Baker wants people to know if they need any help this holiday season, they can reach out.

“If anybody has a need, reach out to us,” Baker said. “We’re here to help and if we can help your family this Christmas, we’d be happy to do that.”

There are 15 different locations across the Capital Region to drop off donations:

Albany
Albany Associates in Cardiology, Palisades Drive
B. Lodge & Co., Pearl Street

Clifton Park
Billie’s Barber Shop, Old Route 146
Starpoint Church, Route 146
Reality One Group, Plank Road

Cohoes
Danielle’s House of Hair, Remsen Street
Pizza Stop, Ontario Street

Green Island
81 James Street (inside front hall)

Schenectady
That’s a Great Cigar Shop, Erie Boulevard

South Glens Falls
Maximum Nutrition, 131 Saratoga Avenue

Waterford
St. Mary’s School, 6th Street
Straight Razor Society, 99 Broad Street

Watervliet
DeLollo’s Hardware, 19th Street
Arsenal City Tavern, 3rd Avenue
Pioneer Bank, 2nd Avenue

You can also make monetary donations at the Watervliet Pioneer Bank, or on the Venmo App, just send the donation to @christmaspajamas.

On Sunday, Dec. 4, Arsenal City Tavern is hosting a Christmas Pajama Brunch Party to help Fraim and Baker collect donations. Everyone that attends the brunch is asked to wear pajamas and bring an extra pair to donate.

“Its a great cause that people don’t think about, they think about donating food, money, other stuff but pajamas they don’t think about,” Dan Farrell,owner of Arsenal City Tavern said. “When its cold out and its Christmas, its a really good thing that goes along way.”

Farrell says he will donate a pair of pajamas for every bloody mary he sells, and anyone who donates now between Dec. 4, will get a voucher for a free mimosa to use at Arsenal City Tavern.