First National Bank has partnered with Cedar Valley Friends of the Family to collect pajamas for the Women’s Shelter in the month of March. 

“The traditional time to give to non-profit organizations is during the holidays, but their needs don’t end on January 1^st,” says Christa Leary, Marketing Director at First National Bank.  “We contacted Cedar Valley Friends of the Family, and they were excited and receptive to our idea, and gave us some ideas of their own.”

The month of April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month as well as Child Abuse Prevention Month.  Cedar Valley Friends of the Family supplies area hospitals with bags for victims of sexual assault.  According to Marcie Sharp, Administrative Services Director for Cedar Valley Friends of the Family, “If you are a victim of sexual assault, and you go to the hospital, they take all your clothes for evidence.  The hospitals used to be able to give out ‘scrubs’ but due to budget cuts, they now rely on victims’ shelters for the items they need.”

“It always seems that the one of the things an overnight shelter guest forgets is pajamas,” says Sharp.  “We want to be able to provide that one little comfort from home for the women and kids who are our guests.”

Items being collected are:

o       Pajamas for women in any size with tags still attached

o       Pajamas for girls and boys up to age 15 with the tags still attached

o       Women’s’ sweatpants or sweatshirts up to size 4X

o       Women’s tee shirts up to size 4X

o       Women’s underwear and socks

If you would like to donate one or more of the items on the list, you can drop them off at any First National Bank location in Waverly, Plainfield or Cedar Falls.