Skip to content

Behchoko RCMP deck the halls with PJs

Each Christmas season, Sgt. Scott Young collects items to give to residents of the community where he is posted.

In the spirit of the Christmas season, RCMP Sgt. Scott is organizing a pajama drive for young people in Behchoko. photo courtesy of Sgt. Scott Young

The RCMP officer has worked in four Northwest Territories communities – Fort Smith, Hay River, Inuvik and, as of last November, Behchoko. In previous years he has organized holiday toy and food drives.

This winter, Young is putting out a call for new pajamas, sizes new-born to 16, as well as larger fits for teenagers.

“This is the first time I've done the pajama drive,” Young said Wednesday. “I just thought I'd do something different this year.”

No matter what age, said Young, anyone can take pleasure in a brand new pair of cozy PJs.

“It's winter, and it's cold, and lots of kids don't have the privilege of enjoying new pajamas for one reason or another, whether the families can't afford it or what have you,” he said.
So far, the RCMP has collected close to 100 pairs of pajamas for young people in Behchoko, and are welcoming more donations.

“There are hundreds of kids in this community,” said Young. “I'm guessing we're going to need hundreds (of pairs). The population of the high school alone is about 400 kids.”

Anyone interested in donating pajamas can drop off new pairs at the Behchoko or Yellowknife RCMP detachments.

If a person is unable to deliver pajamas to the detachments themselves, he or she can contact Young at (867) 392-1111 and he will make arrangements to pick them up.

Volunteers from the Behchoko RCMP detachment will drive around the community distributing the pajamas around the 23rd and 24th of December.