The life of a child is a promise for the future, but for many children their future is at risk. Christ Child Society volunteers reach out to teach, motivate, clothe and care for children in their communities through the initiative of Challenging Poverty: One Child at a Time.
We invite you to view our site and find out more about the society founded by Mary Virginia Merrick and her vision that “the personal element brings true charity to life.”
Show how much you care with a layette card this Christmas.
Your gift to the Christ Child Society of Summit Layette Program
Helps give a loving start to New Jersey babies in need.
The holidays are a time for gratitude, sharing and remembering loved ones. In the spirit of giving, send a Christ Child Christmas Layette Card to honor a special person while also helping give a baby in need a loving start in life. It’s the perfect holiday gift for friends, teachers, grandparents, and those people who ”have everything!”
Click here for information on how to order these adorable and thoughtful cards. We are not able to sell cards in person this year, so please order early on-line and help support our layette program. Thank you!
Festival of Trees
On December 13, the Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit will be holding their first annual Festival of Trees, A Multicultural Celebration of the Holidays. There will be arts and crafts that celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and the Solstice; musical entertainment; food trucks; and, holiday vendors. The highlight of the festival, however, will be over 20 festive trees placed around the grounds, decorated by local organizations, businesses, and families! Come see the Christ Child Society of Summit Knitting Angels Tree decorated with tiny toppers made by our very own Knitting Angels.
Visit reeves-reedarboretum.org for more information and to sign up for timed entry to the event.
In Memoriam..
Margaret L. Clarke ( nee Lydon ), 94, passed peacefully on Friday, October 2, 2020. Margaret was the loving mother of Maura Clarke Perier, a founding board member of the Christ Child Society of Summit
Born in Chicago, Illinois she lived in Newark, Kearny and Nutley (for over 50 years) before moving to Chatham 5 years ago. A graduate of our Lady of Good Counsel in Newark, N.J. she completed her studies at the New York Dietician School in New York, N.Y. Margaret started her career as the Dietician at St. Michael’s Hospital in Newark, NJ where she worked before starting her family. Later in life, she worked in customer service for North American Watch Company in Lyndhurst, N.J. Prior to that she worked for the Wedgewood Corporation, also in Lyndhurst, N.J.
A gracious woman, Margaret was defined by faith, family and her Irish culture. She honored any charitable request that came to her door or mailbox. She treasured her children and grandchildren and embraced every moment with them.
“Nana Mag’s” light spirt, and laugher was evident as her grandchildren would wheel her with glee on their regular visits. She sentimentally kept cards and gifts from family and friends as well as her mother’s finest things carried 3,000 miles on her journey to the United States from her home in Castlesheenaghan, County Mayo.
Margaret had a lifelong love of her Irish Heritage and was a member of and honored by many Irish Groups and Societies including; the Independent Irish Society, the N.J. Gaelic Athletic Association, the Rosary Society, the Nutley Irish, The Women of Irish Heritage, Irish American Cultural Institute, The Giblin Association The. John F. Cryan Association and the Frank McGovern Association.
Margaret was the beloved wife of the late Vincent F. Clarke, whom she lost in 1981 and always dearly missed; the cherished mother of her loving son, the late Vincent F. Clarke Jr. and his surviving wife Melanie and her devoted daughter, Maura C. Perier and her husband Frank; the adoring grandmother of Arianna Clarke, and Frank V., Jacqueline and Bridget Perier; the dear sister of the late Patsy Lydon and her late parents Beatrice McNicholas Lydon and John Lydon, who both emigrated from Castlesheenaghan, Co. Mayo and Goulane, Co. Mayo, Ireland, respectively.
In lieu of Flowers the family would appreciate donations made to either the Christ Child Society of Summit, N.J. (click here to donate) or the Shrine of Saint Joseph in Sterling, N.J.
2020 School Supplies Distribution Gets an”A +”
For the twelfth year, the Christ Child Society of Summit and Bridges Outreach provided over 360 elementary, middle and high school children in Summit, eligible for free or reduced lunch, with new backpacks prefilled with school supplies. Parents were able to take the financial resources that would have been used for school supplies to pay for food, rent, and other necessities.
“For many families in Summit, especially during this global pandemic, it is difficult to afford the high cost of the many school supplies needed each year. Distributing these supplies is an easy and thoughtful way for our community to help these families, and to give these children a fresh start to the new school year,” commented Lois Melka, CCS Chair.
The volunteers and participants were asked to appropriately social distance and wear masks to insure the health and safety for all.
The Christ Child Society and Bridges appreciate the donations and grants from their partners: the Summit Luminary Fund, the Junior League of Summit, St. Teresa’s Church and private donations.
L-r: Alison Lees, Jackie Browne, Daniella Ospina, Bev Luehs, Daniel Kohaut, Maura Perier, Leslie Drummond, Jane Murphy
2020 Christ Child Society Scholarships Awarded
Two graduating seniors of Summit High School, Daniel Kohaut and Daniella Ospina, have been awarded the 2020 Christ Child Society of Summit Scholarship of $2,500 each. The Scholarship is awarded to students who have displayed academic achievement, and who have worked or volunteered with children.
Daniel and Daniella were chosen from among 16 applicants because of their dedication to succeed in school, their contribution to their communities and families and their independent spirit. Daniel Kohaut will be attending Rochester Institute of Technology and Daniella Ospina will be attending Rutgers Newark.
The Christ Child Scholarship Committee members are: Jackie McCarthy-Browne, Leslie Drummond, Donna Groskoph, Allison Lees, Bev Luehs and Maura Perier.
Jane Murphy, Shelly Scott, Laura Sullivan, Cheryl Mullery, and Theresa Sweeney
Packing Layettes of Love
Our fearless Layette committee has ensured that the families and babies in need at Overlook and Morristown hospitals are getting layette essentials, even during the pandemic. Thanks to your membership dollars and other donations, we were able to purchase items for, pack up, and deliver 50 layettes to the HealthStart clinics in early July. Thank you to this dedicated group of women for providing these items to families who need our help now, more than ever. To help us provide additional layettes this fall, you can make a donation here.
Our Heartfelt Thanks
and a Tribute to a Special Benefactor
Walt Bischoff
1938 - 2020
Walter Bischoff, a dear friend of Summit Christ Child passed away in April. Read more about this special man and all he did for the Christ Child Society.
Junior CCS Debut
Did you know we now have a Junior Christ Child Society? Children in grades 8 through 12 can join this great group of students who have come together to support the activities and mission of the Christ Child Society of Summit, which is to serve children in need in our community. Some of their inaugural activities included selling roses outside the childrens’ masses at St. Teresa of Avila church on Mother’s Day to raise money for CCS, organizing a children’s book drive, collecting for Loaves and Fishes, and detagging layette clothing. For more information on becoming a Junior Christ Child Society member, contact us at ccssummit@gmail.com.
Christ Child Society of Summit
Calendar of Events 2020-2021
August
8/24 - School Supplies Backpack Packing 10:00am - 12:00pm and 1:00-3:00pm at Bridges
8/26 School Supplies Distribution 9am - 12pm
8/27 School Supplies Distribution 4pm - 6:30pm
September
9/23 Layette de-tagging 9:30am
9/24 Layette assembly and packing 9:15am - 10:30am at Memorial Hall, lower level
October
10/1 Board Meeting on Google meet 10:00am
10/6 CCS Yoga in the Park 10:45am on the Summit Village Green
10/8 General Membership Meeting on Google Meet at 9:00am
10/22 Make a Difference Day Knitting Angels 10:30am to 12:00pm at 2 Colt Road Sign up REQUIRED
10/24 Make a Difference Day JUNIOR CCS members 3:30 to 5:00pm at 16 Club Drive Sign up REQUIRED
10/29 Make a Difference Day Finishing Fleece Blankets 9:00 to 11:00 am at 23 High Street Sign up REQUIRED
November
11/12 Layette assembly and packing 9:00 -10:30am at Memorial Hall, lower level Sign up REQUIRED
Our first virtual meeting was held on October 8th. Stay tuned for news of our next meeting. In the meantime, we will stay in touch with members via email, facebook, and this website. You may contact us with any questions at ccssummit@gmail.com.
Stay home and stay safe!
Join Now!
Click here to become a member of the Christ Child Society of Summit and join a group of women dedicated to having a positive and immediate impact on the lives of local children in need. Your dues directly support our programs for children.
Support the Christ Child Society While You Shop At Amazon
Amazon’s new Smile program donates 0.5% of every purchase to the charity of your choice. AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support the Christ Child Society Summit every time you shop, at no cost to you.And signing up is a snap. Just click smile.amazon.com, type in Christ Child Society Summit in the search line and choose it. That’s it! Next time you sign onto Amazon, you’ll be presented with a button to shop through AmazonSmile. Click the button and shop as usual. Please take a moment and sign up for AmazonSmile and help us create another financial support for our projects such as our school supplies drive for students and our layette program for babies.
