By Cecilia Nasmith
A warm and fuzzy Christmas memory – literally a warm and fuzzy one – has inspired Port Hope Constable Tammie Staples to make sure many more children can enjoy the same tradition.
For several years now, the Port Hope Police Services Community Services Officer has made a Jammie Drive part of her Christmas observances, inspired by memories of how her parents let her and her twin sisters open one present each Christmas Eve. And it was always a brand-spanking-new pair of pajamas. She recalls what a great feeling it was to go to sleep with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads and warm new jammies to snuggle beneath the covers in.
She kept up the tradition all down the years. Now it's something she shares with her husband and son. Sometimes the jammies have a cheesy theme. Sometimes they all get matching sets. Spoiler alert – this year she's including slippers.
She was reliving those memories with her mother recently, and they talked about how she has never stopped carrying it on.
“The tradition never dies, and it never gets old,” Staples declared.
Her Christmas wish would be that every child could know that wonderful feeling. Several years ago, she began her annual Jammie Drive to collect fresh new pajamas for local children to be distributed through the Highland Shores Children's Aid Society.
Last year, she collected almost 300 sets. She's up to 100 so far this year, and wants to collect all she can before Dec. 20 (just in time for the children's Christmas Eve or Christmas morning).
The Municipality of Port Hope has been wholehearted in its support, with collection boxes set up at the police station on Fox Street.
It was Port Hope bus driver Jerry Siebarth who nicknamed the project Tammie's Jammies and had the idea of putting collection boxes on all the buses.
And customer service representative April Potter presented her with a framed original work that she just loves – Potter's own poetic take on The Night Before Christmas that pays tribute to the Jammie Drive.
'Twas the night before Christmas
And all through 5 Mill
Not a creature was stirring
No, the place was quite still
But down along Fox Street
For the Port Hope police
The mood was quite lively
From cotton and fleece
Pajamas were wrapped
And handled with care
Soon children in need
Would have them to wear
There were stripes and plaid flannel
In green, pink and blue
There were dinos and unicorns
And some from cartoons
The children were cozy
On this cold winter's night
Wearing Tammie's Jammies
It was such a delight
But this happy ending
Has to start somewhere
Please give brand new pajamas
Help show that we care
“Every year it gets better and better,” Staples said.
Donations are welcome in every size, because children come in every shape and size. Until Dec. 20, the boxes are back on the buses and set up again in the lobby of the police station, which is open weekdays – if you come after hours, the box will be set outside the lobby to accept your donation as well.
