Welcome to the Christ Child Society of Summit

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.”

Volunteers Needed for School Supplies Distribution

The Annual School Supplies Drive will be taking place once again, although it will look a bit different this year. Instead of the children coming to”shop” for their school supplies, CCS members will be pre-filling 500 backpacks with the necessary supplies for the Summit children who are in need.

Help is needed pre-filling the backpacks and for the actual distribution of the filled backpacks.

This will all take place outside of the Oakes Center in front of Bridges Outreach.

Note: All helpers and participants will be asked to appropriately social distance and wear masks to ensure health and safety for all. In addition, students are not eligible to help in the distribution days.

Please click on the link below to sign up for a volunteer shift. Thank you so much for your help!

Click HERE to volunteer.

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.

L-R: 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 shower 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.

Missing someone?

Want a special way to thank a teacher, helper, or essential worker?

Send a message of love in their honor.

There is no better way to honor someone than by helping someone else in his or her name. A donation to the CCS Layette Program will help mothers in our community give their babies a loving start in life. Your donation will be commemorated with a lovely card and makes for a thoughtful gift “just because” or for Mothers’ Day, baby showers, teacher’s gifts, birthdays, or can be given in memory of a loved one. Click here to make a donation and order your cards today!

We need your membership dollars to continue to

serve children...

Our 2020 membership drive is still underway. We kindly request that members renew their membership so that we can continue to provide services to children in need. ”Our babies” at the local clinics will still need layette clothing and essentials, now more than ever. By renewing your membership or becoming a new member you will be directly supporting our programs for these children, and also our school supplies program, our tutoring and reading enrichment programs at Our Lady Help of Christians in East Orange, and our Christ Child Society scholarship. We will continue these programs and more, with your help. Thank you for your support.

Click here to renew membership or become a new member

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 2019-2020

August

8/27 School Supplies Set up 9-11 am at Bridges

8/28 School Supplies Distribution 9am - 12pm

8/29 School Supplies Distribution 4pm - 6:30pm

September

9/12 MEMBERSHIP MEETING 9am at Memorial Hall, lower level. Come for coffee at 8:45!

9/17 Tutoring at Our Lady Help of Christians: meet at St. Teresa’s parking lot 8:15, return at 10:30

9/19 Layette assembly and packing 8:30-10:30am at Memorial Hall, lower level

9/24 Tutoring at Our Lady Help of Christians in East Orange: meet at St. Teresa’s parking lot 8:15, return at 10:30

October

10/1 Tutoring at Our Lady Help of Christians; meet at St. Teresa’s parking lot 8:15, return at 10:30

10/8 Tutoring at Our Lady Help of Christians; meet at St. Teresa’s parking lot 8:15, return at 10:30

10/10 Board Meeting 8:30 am

10/10 Rummage Sale item donation drop off 12:30 pm to 7:30 pm Memorial Hall

10/11 Readers to Leaders Pre-K Reading Enrichment at OLHC 9:00am -11:00 am

10/11 Rummage Sale item donation drop off 9 am to 12 pm Memorial Hall

10/12 Rummage Sale 8:00 am to 1:00 pm Memorial Hall

10/15 Tutoring at Our Lady Help of Christians; meet at St. Teresa’s parking lot 8:15, return at 10:30

10/16 Meet at 8:30 am mass at St. Teresa’s. Members sit together on left center side of church

10/19 Make a Difference Day 8:30 to 10:30 am at Memorial Hall lower level

10/22 Tutoring at Our Lady Help of Christians; meet at St. Teresa’s parking lot 8:15, return at 10:30

10/29 Tutoring at Our Lady Help of Christians; meet at St. Teresa’s parking lot 8:15, return at 10:30

November

11/7 Board Meeting 8:30 am

11/12 Tutoring at Our Lady Help of Christians; meet at St. Teresa’s parking lot 8:15, return at 10:30

11/14 MEMBERSHIP MEETING 9am at Memorial Hall, lower level. Come for coffee at 8:45!

11/14 Layette assembly and packing 9:30-10:30am at Memorial Hall, lower level (after membership meeting)

11/15 Readers to Leaders Pre-K Reading Enrichment at OLHC 8:45am -11:00 am

11/15 Pop-up Knitting Event from 6pm to 8 pm at Wool and Grace, Summit

11/17 Junior Christ Child Society meeting 7:30 pm at lower Memorial Hall

11/19 Tutoring at Our Lady Help of Christians; meet at St. Teresa’s parking lot 8:15, return at 10:30

11/22 Morning Reflection with Pam Robertson 9:15am to 11:00am in Adoration Chapel (behind the altar in St. Teresa’s church) All members welcome, feel free to bring a friend. Theme is “giving thanks.”

December

12/1 Christmas Layette Card sales on the plaza after Sunday morning masses at St. Teresa’s

12/3 Tutoring at Our Lady Help of Christians; meet at St. Teresa’s parking lot 8:15, return at 10:30

12/6 Readers to Leaders Pre-K Reading Enrichment at OLHC 9:00am -11:00 am

12/10 Tutoring at Our Lady Help of Christians; meet at St. Teresa’s parking lot 8:15, return at 10:30

12/12 Board Meeting 8:30 am

12/13 Pop-up knitting event at Batavia, Springfield Ave, Summit 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. All Welcome!!

12/16 Meet at 8:30am morning mass at St. Teresa’s. Members sit together on left center side of church

12/16 CCS Advent Giving Tree volunteering after 8:30 am mass in Adoration Chapel behind altar at St. Teresa’s

12/17 Tutoring at Our Lady Help of Christians; meet at St. Teresa’s parking lot 8:15, return at 10:30

January

1/9 Board Meeting 8:30 am

1/10 Readers to Leaders Pre-K Reading Enrichment at OLHC 9:00am -11:00 am

1/16 Layette assembly and packing 8:30-10:30am at Memorial Hall, lower level

1/24 Home mass 9:30 am at Peggy Kane’s house 3 Iris Road, Summit (Please note later start time)

1/30 Evening “Bring a Friend” meeting/cocktails 7 pm to 9 pm at Christie McGinn’s 129 Maple St., Summit

February

2/5 Blankets for Babies 10:00am to 7:00pm Memorial Hall. ALL ARE WELCOME!

2/13 Board Meeting 8:30 am

2/18 Knitting Angels Gathering 1:00-3:00pm at 32 Colt Road (Lori White’s) ALL ARE WELCOME

2/ 27 Junior CCS member meeting at 16 Club Drive, Summit (McKegney’s house) at 7 pm All are Welcome!

March

3/5 Layette assembly and packing 8:30-10:30am at Memorial Hall, lower level

3/8 Blankets for Babies at the Elks, 3:00pm at 40 Maple Street, Summit

3/12 Board Meeting 8:30 am

3/26 Annual Baby Shower 11:15am to 2:00pm in Memorial Hall

April

4/9 Board Meeting 8:30am

4/23 MEMBERSHIP MEETING 9am at Memorial Hall, lower level. Come for coffee at 8:45!

May

5/7 Board Meeting 8:30 am

5/7 Layette assembly and packing 9:30-10:30am at Memorial Hall, lower level

June

6/11 Board Meeting 8:30 am

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Next Meeting...

Our meeting scheduled for April 23rd was postponed indefinitely. We hope to meet safely in September, and if facilities are not available, we will try to meet virtually. 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.

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National Christ Child Society website,

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