The 125,000 shoppers expected Friday at the Gurnee Mills shopping mall will have an opportunity to donate pajamas, blankets or hats for children who will spend the holidays as patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
The day after Thanksgiving traditionally is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Organizers of the pajama drive hope to collect 2,000 donated items, said Peg Brandle, the mall’s general manager.
About 30 mall stores will open at 5 a.m. Friday to kick off the pajama drive.
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Donations will be accepted at the mall’s information booth through Christmas Eve.
St. Jude treats about 160 patients daily on an out-patient basis and more than 50 who are admitted. There are about 4,000 children on St. Jude’s active roster, officials said.