Youth spearheads pajama drive

• Dacia Rambousek

Press Photo by Linda Sailer Dacia Rambousek places pajamas around her Christmas tree at home Tuesday for Project Night-Light. The pajamas were donated by students and faculty at Taylor-Richardton Elementary School

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When Dacia Rambousek, 10, learned about Project Night-Light, her heart was moved to help children experiencing abuse or neglect in North Dakota.

She challenged students at Jefferson Elementary School to purchase pajamas for the project’s “Bags of Hope” distributed through Children’s Advocacy Centers in Bismarck, Minot, Grand Forks and Fargo.

“It’s fun — it’s been pretty easy,” Dacia said from her home in Dickinson.

“One of her teachers challenged the students to find a service project that could make a difference,” said her mom, Sandra Rambousek.

Dacia’s family also includes her dad, Jason Rambousek, and sisters, Keira, 6, and Medora, 18 months.

The family learned about Project Night-Light when its founder, the Rev. Pebbles Thompson, spoke to the Assembly of God church in Dickinson.

“I challenged all my girls to focus on a Christmas of giving this year, instead of a Christmas of receiving,” Sandra said. “We’re cutting down the number of gifts we’re going to be receiving.”

Because Sandra teaches kindergarten at Taylor-Richardton Elementary School, the students and staff also were invited to participate in the pajama drive. The Student Council is coordinating the effort.

“They took it on as their community awareness service project for this month,” said Principal Janine Olson.

The charity was explained through notes sent home to parents.

“I think it’s a very creative idea — it’s nice to see young people be more involved in helping others,” Olson said.

In addition to pajamas, the charity distributes fleece-tied blankets.

Dacia gave a speech regarding the charity’s needs to the Jefferson PAC Committee. As a result of the presentation, the PAC purchased fabric for each classroom to make a blanket.

“Dacia, through her church, heard about the need of these kids and challenged our school to bring in new pairs of pajamas,” Principal Becky Meduna said.

Jefferson named Project Night-Light as its charity for the Sax Motor Co. tree-decorating contest. Cash prizes are awarded to the trees receiving the most votes from the public, she said.

“She is to be commended for being so young to take on a service project of this nature,” Meduna said.

Dacia said the public also can help the charity by purchasing pajamas.

“One rule is they can be any size, they can be any gender, but they have to be new and they have to be two pieces,” she said.

The pajamas may be delivered to Jefferson by Dec. 21.

“It’s been growing and we want it to be a blessing,” Sandra added.

Tags: lifestyle, dickinson, local, taylor