Yellowknife sisters bring Christmas cheer to city's seniors with pajama drive

Two sisters from Yellowknife have taken a time-honoured Christmas tradition to a new level, organizing gifts of pajamas for nearly a hundred seniors in the city.

When the initiative was first conceived, Jennifer and Diane Pagonis were hoping to collect pajamas for just over 50 residents of the Avens seniors community. However, after a response Diane called "absolutely overwhelming," they were able to include the residents of Mary Murphy seniors' home and Stanton Hospital's extended care unit.

"I sent an e-mail out at work, and I had a response back within 5 minutes, probably 10 people telling me they were going to donate," said Jennifer. "And then next thing you know the next day there was monetary donations, and it just went from there."

Sisters honour late father

The Pagonissistersstarted the drive in honour of their father, Peter Pagonis, who passed away in September.

A well-known Yellowknife resident,Peterwas committed to helping the city's community of senior citizens, however he could, saidJennifer.

"He would go and buy stuff for seniors, whatever he could doto make every day a little bit easier. Whether it was the grabbers, or diabetic socks, or Polident, whatever it was."

"We wanted to give back to our community in the way that he was giving back."

Rebecca Alty, thedirector of community relations and community development at Avens, said that the centre was excited by the sisters' gifts.

"They wanted to do something special for all the seniors," she said. "I think it's a great idea.

"It's great, just seeing one of the seniors' reactions to opening it. She's just so touched that they thought of her."

It wasn't their initial plan, but the positive response has encouraged the Pagonis' to make the drive an annual event. They say they have "big plans" for next year, but don't want to talk about their plans just yet.

"It should bring a lot of people together," Jennifer said, with a smile.