‘It just kept growing and growing’: N.S. initiative gifts pajamas to seniors at Christmas

Alyssa’s Angels continue to collect sleepwear for seniors – in an effort to spread holiday comfort and joy.

This marks the fifth year of Alyssa’s Angels Jammies for Grammies, an initiative that gives a new pair of pajamas to elderly people in Nova Scotia.

Alyssa’s Jammies for Grammies began in honour of Patricia MacNeil’s daughter Alyssa who passed away from brain cancer in 2020.

When it first started, the donations were just enough for a wing of residents in a nursing home.

“We’re very proud of how it’s grown over the years,” MacNeil said.

Once family and friends found out about the initiative, it grew bigger every year.

“The first year, we finished one home. The next year, we moved up to four homes,” MacNeil said. “It just kept growing and growing.”

This year, Alyssa’s angels is donating pajamas to 13 nursing homes. The pajamas are donated through Alyssa’s angels.

“To become an angel, you just contact us either through Facebook or Instagram and we’ll provide you with either a Grammy or a Grampy,” MacNeil said.

Alyssa’s angels are given the name, size and preference of pajama style of the senior they are purchasing for.

The pajamas are wrapped at MacNeil’s house, and a personalized card is written for each senior receiving them.

“They’re all delivered the week before Christmas, so all the seniors have their gifts before Christmas morning,” said MacNeil.

MacNeil said she knows her daughter would be involved in Alyssa’s angels.

“I know that Alyssa is looking down at us and she’s so proud,” she said.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Mike Lamb

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page