NORTHAMPTON — Many students walked into R.K. Finn Ryan Road Elementary School on Friday wearing the outfits that many had likely begged their parents to wear on previous school days to no avail. It was, finally, pajama day.
Students wore pink onesies, Santa Claus shirts, basketball print flannel pants, and fuzzy, animal-themed jumpsuits.
“I’ve been really excited,” said Kayla Wihtle, holding up her stuffed animal, Stitch, in the school library. “This is the most exciting day of my life.”
Inside the school doors, students collected a total of $145 in donations for the Gazette’s Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund. Students were not required to donate to participate in pajama day.
Named after a former business manager at the Gazette, the Toy Fund began in 1933 to help families in need during the Depression. Today, the fund distributes vouchers worth $40 to families for each child from age 1 to 14. Eligible families must live in any Hampshire County community except Ware, in the southern Franklin County towns of Deerfield, Sunderland, Whately, Shutesbury, and Leverett, and in Holyoke in Hampden County.
18 Degrees Family Services for Western Massachusetts at 59 Interstate Drive in West Springfield verifies families’ eligibility and the Gazette covers costs associated with the drive, freeing all donations to fund the vouchers.
On Friday, Ryan Road staff, including principal Sarah Madden, walked the hallways in their pajamas. The school has traditionally raised money for the fund through a pajama day. “I guess this would be our seventh year,” Madden said.
A team of student leaders made posters to put around the school to promote the event, and fifth graders collected donations. Students were, unsurprisingly, quite happy.
“Pajama day is amazing,” said Emma Casella. “You’re always uncomfortable in regular clothes.”
“I kind of feel like it’s my day off … because I’m in my pajamas,” said Talia Garretson.
At the Anne T. Dunphy School in Williamsburg, Rita Luce’s first-grade class is collecting money for the fund. Students are learning about empathy in school, “so it ties in nicely with that,” Luce said.
“They can help these other kids if they can do some extra chores at home. I call it coins for kids. I ask the parents if they do something extra — make their bed, feed the dog — they send a little envelope with coins, although we have some bills as well.”
She added, “I think it’s a lesson in being empathic toward others.”
Last year, her class donated about $100 to the Toy Fund, she said. The coins haven’t been counted this year but, “It’s a pretty heavy jar,” she said.
“They can count by fives, they can count by 10s and ones,” but more than that is difficult, Luce said. She said students will sort the coins into their respective categories, and the teachers will count the money.
This year, the following stores are participating in the Toy Fund: A2Z Science and Learning Store, 57 King St., Northampton; Deals & Steals, 1 Pearl St., Northampton; JCPenney, 367 Russell St., Hadley (store only); The Toy Box, 201 N. Pleasant St., Amherst; Target, 367 Russell St. Hadley (store only); Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, 227 Russell St., Hadley; Odyssey Bookshop, 9 College St., Village Commons, South Hadley; Wilson’s Department Store, 258 Main St., Greenfield; World Eye Bookshop & Magical Child, 134 Main St., Greenfield; Holyoke Sporting Goods Co. 1584 Dwight St. #1, Holyoke; Children’s Museum at Holyoke, 444 Dwight St., Holyoke.
Donations to the Toy Fund may be dropped off at or mailed to the Daily Hampshire Gazette, P.O. Box 299, Northampton, MA, 01061, or made through Gazettenet at www.gazettenet.com.
Checks should be made payable to the Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund.
Greta Jochem can be reached at gjochem@gazettenet.com.