A gift for the child of a friend has become the mission of the Central Lambton Optimist.

The Optimist Pediatric Pillowcase Program gives children at Bluewater Health a little comfort of home.

Pam Core started the program after realizing that a small thing such as a pillowcase can make a big difference. “A best friend’s daughter was in the hospital in London, so I made her one and she thought that was so great.”

Core quickly realized it would be a program ideally suited to The Optimists whose motto is ‘friend of youth.’

The group started fundraising and started handing out the first pillowcases in Sarnia in April 2013.

Core says the first young woman to receive a pillow case was slated to go to Disney World but wasn’t able to because of her illness. She picked out a Disney patterned pillowcase. “It eased the fact that she wasn’t able to go to Disney World right away.”

The Optimists will be raising money for the program at a special meat raffle next Thursday (Nov. 28.) at Crabby Joe’s. Core says it cost about $6.50 to make one of the cases and the like to be able to provide the hospitals with a wide variety for the children to chose from.

“It’s something they can cuddle something they can take home when they leave,” she says. “It’s something cheery to brighten up their room.