Girls take on fundraising

Submitted by Mary Ulrich

What started as a one time fundraising idea is now in its third year.

In January 2009, the then Wauconda Area Junior Miss, Sarah Ulrich and Little Miss Meg Basco decided to help the Pajama Program by collecting new pajamas and new books.

They distributed fliers and placed collection boxes in various locations in the Wauconda Area. Meg and Sarah even held a Pajama Bowling party inviting all the 2008 Lake County Community Queens to help with collections.

Again this year, they are teaming up with the Northern Illinois Scholarship Program as Elite Supreme Queen Meg Basco and Princess Ambassador Sarah Ulrich. In the last two years, they have collected 367 new pajamas and 519 new books.

The Pajama Program is a nonprofit organization providing new pajamas and new books to children in shelters or group homes or who are waiting for someone to adopt them. They are living in temporary housing after a natural disaster, their parents are in jail or they are homeless. It is the hope that every child will have a warm pair of pajamas and a bedtime story.

If you would like to help, please look for the designated collection boxes at Robert Crown Elementary School, Wauconda Grade School, Transfiguration Church and School, Messiah Lutheran Church, the Wauconda Area Library, The Academy of Ballet, Bliss Wine & Gifts, and Green Bench Antiques in Wauconda and Cotton Creek School in Island Lake.

Fellow NISP Queens Nicole Harrington and Alison Greissinger are pitching in and additional collection boxes are located at Our Lady of Humility School in Beach Park and Frederick School in Grayslake.

Collection boxes will be out until Friday, Feb. 25. New pajamas sizes infant to children’s size 16 for boys or girls are needed along with new books.

For additional information, e-mail pjdrivequeens@yahoo.com or call Mary Ulrich, at (847) 721-5563, or Julie Basco, at (815) 482-3697.

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