Florida Catholic | Christ Child Society

Christ Child Society warms babies, supports mothers

The society’s mission is to assure that every newborn, no matter how needy, is able to be warm and comfy, as was the Christ Child.

MIKE HANRAHAN | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 12.21.07

Bags of blankets await delivery to infants and ther mothers.

Red bags are filled with warming items and await delivery to mothers for their infants.
Courtesy Photo

PALM BEACH | One of the most aptly named service organizations in the Diocese of Palm Beach could be the Christ Child Society, whose volunteers provide for the basic needs of newborns, their mothers, and families in financial need.

With chapters in Stuart, North Palm Beach and Boca Raton, the organization provides complete layettes for the mothers and babies who need them.

The society’s mission is to assure that every newborn, no matter how needy, is able to be warm and comfy, as was the Christ Child, according to volunteers and those involved. The gift package generally includes a large crib blanket, sheets, receiving blankets, diapers, bottles, sleeping gowns, towels and a tiny sweater in blue or pink.

“The organization was founded by Mary Virginia Merrick, a native of Washington, D.C. Born into a prominent family, Mary suffered a serious fall as a teenager and became confined to a wheelchair,” said Sandy Woodward, a member of the Stuart chapter.

“Rather than withdraw from life, the young Catholic dedicated her energies to helping needy children. She sewed clothing for infants and, one Christmas, upon learning of a needy new mother, she encouraged her friends to help prepare a layette,” noted Woodward. That was the very beginning of the Christ Child Society.

Three years ago, the Vatican Congregation of Saints named Merrick “a servant of God,” which is the first step toward potential canonization as a saint.

“Nothing is ever too much to do for a child,” was Merrick’s favorite expression when asking for support for the Christ Child Society, according to Woodward.

The local chapters of the Christ Child Society have received numerous recognitions from Florida hospitals, social workers and service groups for their assembly of layettes. The national organization has been in existence for 120 years and now operates in 16 states. There are five chapters in Florida. Besides the local ones in the Diocese of Palm Beach, there are also chapters in Sarasota and Naples. Each Palm Beach chapter distributed close to 400 layettes last year.

Marlene Genovese of Port St. Lucie is a former president of the Stuart chapter and a former president of the national organization.

“The primary mission of every chapter is to prepare the layettes, but chapters are also encouraged to do what else they can to help needy children,” she said.

“In the past year, the members of the Stuart chapter have also been assembling ‘my stuff’ bags for children who have been pulled from abusive homes, or pulled for any other reason. The bags include at least one outfit, three sets of underwear, a book, a toy, toothbrush, toothpaste and a pillow,” said Genovese.

Under a program called “Challenging poverty, one child at a time,” some of the 56 members of the Stuart chapter help out as tutors for children in the elementary schools.

Mary Bishop, president of the North Palm Beach chapter, said her group would like to attract some additional members.

“We distribute an average of 40 layettes a month and could use a little more help,” she said.

Bishop noted that the Boca Raton chapter split off from the North Palm chapter several years ago in order for the volunteers to work closer to home in the southern end of the diocese.

“Some of our members spend their spare time knitting sweaters for children, in accord with the Challenging Poverty Program,” she said.

Each of the chapters conducts an annual fundraiser through either a luncheon or fashion show.

Anyone interested in joining a chapter or learning more about the group, may contact Mary Genovese at the Christ Child Society of Stuart, P.O. Box 2007, Stuart, FL 34995.

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Christ Child Society warms babies, supports mothers

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