“Knitting is clothing made in spare moments, or round the fire, whenever women gathered together... It’s something to celebrate-clothes made in love and service, something women have always done.” ― Anne Bartlett, Knitting
The knitting event we had on Friday was certainly something to celebrate! We had ladies from St Teresa’s Prayer Shawl Group, our CCS members, and newcomers join us at our second gathering of the Knitting Angels. It was a fun and productive gathering of ladies with varied talents in both knitting and crochet. We compared and complimented each other’s tiny toppers in progress, and happily continued our new”tradition” of coming together to make hats for newborns to include in our layettes. Stay tuned for info on our next gathering, and just keep knitting!!
Once again, we made our pre-dawn pilgrimage to Joanne’s Fabrics in Succasunna last week to purchase fleece for Blankets for Babies Day. The staff at Joanne’s generously and graciously opens the store early so they can help us gather, sort, and cut all the fleece we need. Our purchase of fleece is made possible by a generous grant from Summit Elks Lodge #1246. We are so grateful for their support, and have stretched their dollars using discounts and coupons—reducing our fleece cost to a mere $4.16/yd. Can’t beat that!! Even more impressive are these numbers:
We purchased 481.5 yards of fabric, or enough to make 321 blankets. Taking into account the 12 inches of fringe on each blanket, and multiplying the linear feet by 4 since we sew two sides of the blanket then topstich the two sides again, we will sew 4,494 feet or 1,498 yards! At 1,760 yards in a mile, that makes .85 MILES OF SEWING. Adding the 53 blankets that need partial sewing (in process from last year), that is A MILE OF SEWING FOR THE BABIES!
We couldn’t do it without all of our helpers who cut, pin, iron, fringe, tie, and yes, SEW on Blankets for Babies Day! Can’t wait to see you all on Wednesday, February 1st from 10 am to 8 pm at Memorial Hall! See our home page for more information and to sign up.
A dozen or so members and friends of the Christ Child Society of Summit gathered at Cynthia Tarantino’s house to make tiny toppers (baby hats) for our layettes. From experts to beginners just learning to cast on, everyone had a blast—eating, chatting, and knitting! Can’t wait for our next opportunity to gather together to KNIT!
Twenty-nine volunteers gathered on Oct. 22nd, our nation’s largest day of service, to make a difference in our community!
We prepared baby clothes for packing in our layettes, worked on fleece baby blankets, and knitted tiny toppers (baby hats) as part of Layettes of Love, a day of service in honor of our founder’s 150th birthday this fall. Mary Virginia Merrick, whose cause for canonization as a Catholic saint is open, gave us a legacy of care for children in need that continues to inspire us all. We are so proud to have shared this day of service with 30 other Christ Child Society chapters and 1600 volunteers around the country!
On February 1st, Lori and I were honored to receive a check from Summit’s Luminary Fund in support of the Christ Child Society’s Layette Program. Each year the Luminary Fund supports an amazing group of non-profit organizations that in turn support Summit citizens, from infants to seniors. The Luminary Fund is able to provide these funds due to the generosity of Summit citizens who purchase thousands of luminaries each December to illuminate our town on December 24th. As Miles MacMahon, another Luminary Fund recipient, so aptly put it, “the luminary effect”, or “glow,” starts with the people who buy and display these beautiful lights throughout the town. It is spread through the good works of the people who run the program led by Barbara Romano. Lastly, it is felt by every Summit citizen who benefits from the services provided by fund recipients including the Summit First Aid Squad, SAGE, Senior Connections, Area Baby Center, and more. Thank you to the Luminary Fund and to all these organizations for making Summit “glow.”
I have a wonderful story that will warm your hearts on this cold, snowy morning.
If you ever wondered if our work makes a difference, Rikki and I can share with you what we witnessed yesterday. After our assembly, we brought 54 layettes (30 more than we usually bring them) and 2 bags of snowsuits from the Advent Giving Tree to Morristown Pediatric Health Center. When we arrived the waiting room was empty as it was not a clinic day but the staff greeted us with smiles, excitement, pure joy and appreciation for all the layettes. They couldn’t believe how many we were delivering. As we were lugging them in, a young mother and her baby came out from their appointment. It immediately became apparent the baby was only wearing a onesie with a light blanket over the baby carrier. We all know how cold it was yesterday, we were all talking about it as we came in yesterday morning. We were all fully clothed coming from our warm cars! Not the same for this mom and her baby who were going back out in the cold and probably taking public transportation. The staff looked at the bags of snowsuits with delight and promptly found the proper size for this beautiful baby girl. We then got a layette and gave it to her and the nurse translated who we were and what was in the layette. This mom seemed genuinely surprised but oh so grateful. Rikki and I could barely see through our misty eyes! I still have chills recounting this story for you.
We then met with Joanna, the social worker who runs this program. She didn’t have enough words to thank us for all we do for this center. She said that having Christ Child bring these layettes makes her job so special and being able to give these layettes to her clients makes a huge difference. She had tears in her eyes as she spoke to us—again Rikki and I were misty! It was a magical delivery and I hope you realize what a big part of this you are! Our whole organization does make a difference, one child at a time—and we witnessed it yesterday!
A big shout out to Jean who did all the shopping for this assembly—thank you—your selections are always adorable and picked with such love!!
To all that helped yesterday, old and new members—you did a great job and I so appreciate of all of you!
Led by our fearless Blankets for Babies chairperson, Theresa Sweeney, Cheryl Mullery, layette chair, and Angeli Breen, publicity chair, took Joanne’s Fabric by storm this week for a “Fleece Run” in preparation for the 4th Annual Christ Child Society of Summit Blankets for Babies Day on February 3rd. Theresa and her Texas drawl kept everyone on task and in good spirits, despite the 5:30 am wake up call and the lack of coffee for one particular shopper! She even used her southern charm to get an additional discount allowing the group to purchase MORE FLEECE!
The amazing staff at Joanne’s Fabric in Succasunna helped the shopping trio select, measure and cut yards and yards of adorable fleece. The goal was to buy enough fleece to make 250 blankets in a single day to include in the layettes that the Christ Child Society of Summit provides to babies in need at Overlook and Morristown hospitals. Layettes are bundles filled with newborn essentials that help babies and their families get off to a happy and healthy start. Blankets are made by volunteers of all ages and abilities, including middle and high school students. Sewing and craft enthusiasts are encouraged to attend, but non sewers are welcome! If you can cut, pin, iron, or tie a knot, you can help make blankets and join in the fun!
The 4th Annual Blankets for Babies Day will be held on February 3rd from 10 am to 8 pm in Memorial Hall at St. Teresa’s (across the street from St. Teresa of Avila Church, 306 Morris Ave., Summit, NJ).
To participate in this year’s event, or for more information, visit our home page or contact us at ccssummit@gmail.com.
The purchase of fleece for Blankets for Babies is funded by a generous Beacon Grant from the Summit Elks Lodge #1246.
Young Kendal M. decided to use some of her communion money to help children in need, so she and her mom went shopping and bought several beautiful outfits, onesies, and pajamas to donate to the Christ Child Society’s layette program. Now her handpicked outfits will find a home with newborns who receive a layette at Overlook or Morristown hopsitals. Thank you Kendal for your kind and generous spirit!
What a fabulous day of making blankets, having fun, seeing fellow members, and making new friends! Despite the ice outside, our 3rd annual Blankets for Babies Day saw 100 volunteers of all ages coming together for a common cause. There was a woman who came despite falling on the ice and chipping her tooth. It didn’t stop her from smiling as she ironed! There was a woman who came because she saw the notice in the bulletin and realized we needed volunteers. How nice of her to help! There were the two young girls who showed up with their sewing machines, got right down to work and sewed away! They were adorable, and proof positive that you are never too young to help others and do work that matters. We love this day....
We were thrilled to see so many turn out on a blustery, cold, January evening for our first “Tiny Toppers” knitting night! On January 23rd, fifteen members gathered at Wool and Grace to knit baby hats to be included in our layettes. It was great fun and a group effort, with experienced knitters helping those that were slightly rusty. Many hadn’t knitted since they were kids and some were learning for the first time! By the end of the evening, all were knitting and purling, and on their way to completing beautiful hand made baby hats. Read more...
To date, we have ten completed tiny toppers and several more nearly finished. Hats can be dropped off at Wool and Grace or brought to our baby shower in March. Members and friends that could not join us on the 23rd can still knit these beautiful baby hats! Stop in at Wool and Grace, 102 Summit Avenue in Summit for the yarn and pattern and they’ll give you a quick lesson to get you started! Stay tuned for more details on our next “Tiny Toppers” knitting social!
