GRAND FORKS — "Helen's Pajama Party" and silent auction, organized by the Rotary Sunrise Club of Grand Forks, will return on May 7 after a four-year hiatus.
Yvonne Gomez, president of the local club, told the Herald she's received a "gazillion" messages from those excited about the event's resurgence.
They say, "'This is such a wonderful event, I'm glad it's coming back,'" Gomez said Monday, April 22. "At two weeks out, we're already up to 250 RSVPs."
"Helen's Pajama Party" and silent auction will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Eagle's Crest on the King's Walk Golf Course in Grand Forks.
Every attendee must pay admission in the form of one pair of new-with-tags adult women's pajamas. In exchange, attendees will receive one drink ticket and may partake in appetizers. Additional drinks, including beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages, can be purchased at a cash bar.
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Club members will organize and distribute the pajamas to abuse shelters across North Dakota and northwest Minnesota.
Nearly two decades ago, a woman in Iowa — Kelly Sargent — came up with the idea. The event is named after her mother.
"She was out shopping, and she thought, 'How nice would it be to have a brand new pair of pajamas?'" Gomez said. "She thought it was silly, but pajamas always gave her comfort."
Sargent then thought of women in domestic violence shelters, and how common it is for them to arrive with few — if any — items, Gomez said. Sargent called her friends; they collected, packaged and delivered pajamas to area shelters.
This event ended up in the Rotarian magazine, and the Grand Forks club was inspired to take on a local version, which members organized annually for approximately a decade before the pandemic, when they made a decision to put the project on hold.
In addition to pajamas, monetary donations are accepted at the event. A silent auction featuring myriad items from local businesses will be another way attendees can make financial contributions to the cause.
The event begins at 6 p.m., with a brief introduction at 6:15 p.m.
"We want it to be a very informal, social event," Gomez said.
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Around 7 p.m., auction listings will begin closing in 15-minute increments, she said.
Anyone interested in attending "Helen's Pajama Party" can email Gomez at ygomez@altru.org, or Barbara Knipe at bfjknipe@gra.midco.net, to RSVP. Full names and phone numbers of each attendee are requested.
If you cannot attend, but would still like to make a donation, arrangements can be made by email.
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