Toddlers home help

PYJAMA PARTY: Local younsters from the Belgrave Lake Park Cottage Playgroup, from left, Rylan, Matt, Mitchell and Jai put on their PJs as a part of a fundraiser.
ATTENDING playgroup in their pyjamas, a group of local youngsters participated in a fundraiser to help the homeless.
As a part of the Melbourne Citymission’s Homeless, not Helpless campaign, schoolaged children and toddlers are getting involved in the mission’s PJ day.
Belgrave Lake Park Cottage Playgroup was one of the many groups participating in the PJ Day which aims to raise money for Melbourne Citymission’s homelessness support service.
Melbourne Citymission runs eight homelessness support programs, including early intervention and referral programs, that assist a wide range of youth, adults and families.
Melbourne Citymission chief executive officer Anne Turley said although the appeal did not kick off until Homeless Person Week in August, Kindergartens, schools, and community groups would be participating in the PJ day during July.
Ms Turley said more than 20,000 Victorians would swap daywear for PJs or give up their bed for a night to raise money for the 20,000 homeless Victorians around the state.
“In the last 10 months Melbourne Citymission have had contact with over 7000 young people, many of who are homeless.
“Each month our services in Melbourne’s west also have contact with 150 adults and families that are in crisis,” Ms Turley said.