Gertson collects pajamas for children removed by CPS
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

Staff Photo by Barry Halvorson Emily Gertson's firstborn son was part of the inspiration behind the idea of collecting pajamas for children who have been taken out of their homes by CPS.

While knowing her calling was to help children, it was an episode of the popular daytime program "Oprah" that provided Emily Gertson with the means of expressing that faith.

"Oprah had a show about doing for others and one of the volunteers highlighted was a woman who collected pajamas for Child Protective Services to distribute to children who had to be removed from their homes," Gertson said. "And I immediately thought to myself, 'I've got to do that.'"

And thus the inaugural Wharton Pajama Drive was put in motion. This year, Gertson, along with her neighbor Shelley DeLuna, are heading up the Second Annual Wharton Pajama Drive. Gertson said the drive will be collecting pajamas and stuffed animals for distribution to children.

"For a lot of these children, being removed from their home is a traumatic experience," she said. "And a lot of them have been neglected without enough to eat or wear. Some don't even know what pajamas are. So getting a new pair of pajamas to sleep in that first night, and maybe a soft toy to cuddle, will help them feel a little better, feel that someone cares enough about them to give them something new and a sense of self worth."

Gertson is a former school teacher - she taught fourth grade at Newgulf Elementary - and is now a stay at home mom with two sons. She said it was the birth of her first son that compelled her to start her community service project.

"As a teacher, I was aware there was a need," she said. "I had students wearing the same clothes two, three or more days in a row because that was all they had," she said. "Or they didn't have enough to eat. And occasionally I'd try to help. But then when I had my own child, I realized just how dependent children are on a parent. My son needed me to wash him, feed him, do everything for him. That's when it really hit me."

Working mostly by word of mouth last year, Gertson was able to collect about 100 pairs of pajamas she turned over to CPS. She said it took about two months for them to all be distributed. So this year she's hoping to up the ante.

"The goal is to collect enough so that every child receives something this year," she said.

"Actually, if we receive enough donations, we'd like to be able to supply CPS and distribute the rest among the foster homes in the area."

While some of last year's pajamas were individual contributions, others were donated as part of community services projects. Her Bunco group donated several pairs and the Wharton High School Spanish Club donated 40 pairs as part of a community service project.

In addition to group donations, Gertson said some of the people donating have made it a more personal, teaching experience in the family. "I've had people say they are using it to teach their own children about giving," she said. "They'll have their kids go with them to the stores and help pick out the pajamas they want to donate."

Gertson was born and raised in Wharton County and met her husband, Kris, when both were students at Wharton County Junior College. She said Kris commutes to Houston on a daily basis so their children have the opportunity to grow up in a small town atmosphere. She added her partner in the project, DeLuna, moved to Wharton from the Katy area.

"She's very happy living here and wanted to return something to the community," Gertson said. "She loves the sense of family she's found in Wharton."

Gertson said that like herself, DeLuna is a stay at-home mom but added she also volunteers at Sivells Elementary School. Gertson has her own school related project serving as one of the founding members of the Faith Christian Academy.

"We're looking to grow the event every year and that means needing some help doing things like publicity as well as collecting donations," Gertson said.

"A lot of small efforts can turn this into something really great for this community. I want people to look at the volunteer spirit in Wharton and want to be part of that kind of community.

While accepting donations at her home, or providing pick up when she can, Gertson said she's grateful to Caney Creek Church, where she attends services, for being a drop off location for the project.

"Being located across the street from the Wharton County Courthouse, it's in a familiar location with the public," she said. "It will make it easier for people to drop off donations because they generally have someone there from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays."

When someone is considering making a donation, Gertson said she gets plenty of donations for smaller children, donations in larger sizes to fit teens are less frequently received but just as important. Those not making a purchase but with an interest in making a donation, Gertson said a check made out to Caney Creek Church with the designation of pajama project on the information line will go toward filling in the gaps other donations don't fill.

For more information, contact Gertson by calling 531-9565.