The Clothing Project's volunteers are preparing to sort hundreds of donations after a community-wide pyjama drive brought in record support.
Volunteers at The Clothing Project are excited to begin sorting the hundreds of donations collected through the 1xx pyjama drive.
At least 450 new pyjama sets, about $2,000 and hundreds of singlets, tracksuit bottoms, socks and blankets have been donated to the group.
The drive ended with a pyjama day, involving 11 schools as well as several work places.
Project founder Amy Revelll said she "braved it" and walked everywhere in my pyjamas, despite it being outside of her comfort zone.
While final totals are still being added up, Revell said the donations have almost tripled compared with last years inaugural drive.
"It's just amazing to have even more of the community behind us and a lot more people being aware about who we are and people are willing to help, everything really has been pretty mind-blowing and exciting."
The drive will ensure every gift box includes a brand-new pair of warm pyjamas, which Revell said helps families during one of the most difficult period of the year for supply and demand.
When some items are missing, gift boxes have to wait to be delivered until more donations come in, particularly because pyjamas are usually in short supply, she said.
"Winter's always our busiest generally because often children have grown between summer and winter and so what, they used to fit in winter last year, they don't, you need more warm clothing and things and in summer you can kind of get away with a lot less.
"So it's always busier for us and the demand's often higher."
Revell said she started the project to reduce textile waste while helping families who may not otherwise have support networks available to them.
"Getting to the people that are struggling and need clothing and aren't necessarily connected with the same circle of friends that have clothing.
"If you're already in that circle where you can swap clothes and things around that's great but there's plenty of people unfortunately that aren't in that community or have that same connection that are struggling.
"It's just helping ease that financial burden where it's like do I buy clothes for this week for my children or do I buy bread or milk?"
Demand for clothing has increased alongside the rising cost of living, including from families who had not previously struggled financially, Revell said.
"The feedback we get is it feels like Christmas, that some staff are just crying because the joy on their face and just how much they appreciate and love."
Clothing gift boxes for Eastern Bay rangatahi. IMAGE: Supplied
The volunteers are excited to have variety of donations, and being able to create packages more quickly because they do not need to check the quality of the items.
"It just excites them and gives them joy to know that they can provide something that's going to help make the tamariki be warm.
"And all the extra little goodies that have come in as well, just to add a little special touch and adds that bit more joy factor of imagining what the children's faces are going to be when they open the gift box."
The donations will be sorted through over the coming week, ready to be delivered to Eastern Bay families in time for winter.
Revell thanked the community, participating businesses and schools for their suppport in growing awareness about the project.
"We really do appreciate it because for us every dollar or every donation really does make a difference and we value that."
As the project heads into winter, she said anyone wanting to lend a hand and support the mahi is welcome.
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