Enjoying each other’s company after a long, hard day’s work!
The Summit Christ Child Chapter held its seventh annual “Collectables and Delectables” sale on October 3rd. Not only did we have our local members volunteering, but a beloved, retired teacher from Oak Knoll, Lucy Remus made a special trip up from Virginia to help out. As she noted, “I wouldn’t miss this great event. I put it in my calendar as soon as I heard the date.” In addition, lots of middle and high school kids volunteered their service hours to help set up and clean up and bring items to shopper’s cars. The original idea of a rummage sale came from Board member Margaret Strong who thought it would be a “feel good” event for our Summit chapter and the community. Seven years later we have continuously been able to provide nice items at a reasonable price, and have the support of St. Teresa’s to hold the event in Memorial Hall, all while raising funds for our programs to help children in need. It is an event where everyone wins! Funny story this year-we found a beautiful set of china from one of our member’s mother that had been hidden from the previous year. We put it out at the sale and our member said, “If it doesn’t sell, I will take it back. I can’t just donate my mom’s china.” Five minutes later a women wanted the china for the price we were asking. There was a huge smile on our member’s face. Items not sold were donated to Sage Resale store in Summit and Purple Heart which through our donations helps the lives of American Veterans and their families.
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....
Monday, December 15th was Christ Child Day at Santa’s workshop...I mean, the Advent Giving Tree work room at St. Teresa’s. The heart of the operation takes place at St. Teresa’s church, where numerous elves sort, wrap, and organize gifts for the recipient organizations. This year over 25 Christ Child Members came to help in two different shifts on a Monday morning. Giving the gift of one’s time and energy is the most meaningful gift we can give. We are so grateful for the many Christ Child members that are always willing to lend a hand to those in need.
This is a great story... a girl signed up to volunteer at our school supplies distribution in August. When she arrived on distribution day she looked like a student, so we asked her how old she was. She said she is 19 and that last year she was a recipient of the school supply program and now that she is graduated, she wanted to see how she could help. She searched our name, found the volunteer page, and signed up! How nice to know that she was inspired by the help she received from CCS to pay it forward.
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!
Thank you to all of our members who so generously gave of their time, treasure, and talents this December in helping with the Advent Giving Tree at St. Teresa’s and the Christmas party and gifts for the teens and babies at Central High School in Newark. As you may know, the Advent Giving Tree provides the babies at Central with gifts for Christmas. The director of the Center at Central High School wrote:
“I would like to thank the members of Christ Child Society of Summit for the generous donation of Gifts, Goodies and the luncheon you all provided for the Teen parents, the children and the staff at Central High. Without the support of CCSS I cannot provide these social events to the families we serve.
Please pass on this message to all and Merry Christmas to you all.
On behalf of the Teen parents and Staff at The Infant and Toddler Early Learning Center at Central High School, Thank you very much for all your support throughout the year.”
May God bless you and keep you safe during your travels this Christmas and give you peace in the new year.
Our 2013 Rummage Sale was held on Saturday, October 19th in Memorial Hall from 8 am to 2 pm. Thank you to the scores of people who donated their treasures, to those who gave these treasures a new life by purchasing them, and to the many volunteers who made it all run smoothly. “Customers” were lined up outside our doors for our 8 am opening, and the crowds kept coming until we closed the doors at 2:00 pm! Read more...
It was a successful day all around! Many people got to recycle their “treasures,” and many others got to snatch up those treasures at bargain basement prices! Our young volunteers also ran a successful bake sale, adding to our proceeds. This event has come to be much anticipated by the community. Proceeds will go to fund our programs for children, including our layette program, our school supplies program, and our Christ Child Society scholarship.
Just in time for school, 323 children eligible for free and reduced lunches received new backpacks and school supplies. For the fifth year, the Christ Child Society of Summit and Bridges Outreach collaborated to collect hundreds of binders, spiral and composition notebooks, pens, pencils and much more. In addition, $2,500 worth of additional supplies were purchased from funds raised by both groups. It is estimated that each child received supplies valuing $65. Parents were able to take the financial resources that would have been used for school supplies to pay for food, rent, and other necessities.Read more...
More than twenty volunteers assisted the children during distribution this August. Thanks to a grant from the Summit Area Public Foundation, every child received a new backpack. Bridges, along with Mondo, Hilltop Bank, Coldwell Banker, Lois Schneider Realty, and St. Teresa’s served as donation points for school supplies. Adding to the summer donations, students were asked to contribute supplies before leaving for summer vacation. “This has become a community event. It’s nice to see Summit come together to help its children,” commented Sally Golding and Jane Murphy, co-chairs of the event.
Just in time for school, 323 children eligible for free and reduced lunches received new backpacks and school supplies. For the fifth year, the Christ Child Society of Summit and Bridges Outreach collaborated to collect hundreds of binders, spiral and composition notebooks, pens, pencils and much more. In addition, $2,500 worth of additional supplies were purchased from funds raised by both groups. It is estimated that each child received supplies valuing $65. Parents were able to take the financial resources that would have been used for school supplies to pay for food, rent, and other neccessities.Read more...
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Just in time for school, 323 children eligible for free and reduced lunches received new backpacks and school supplies. For the fifth year, the Christ Child Society of Summit and Bridges Outreach collaborated to collect hundreds of binders, spiral and composition notebooks, pens, pencils and much more. In addition, $2,500 worth of additional supplies were purchased from funds raised by both groups. It is estimated that each child received supplies valuing $65. Parents were able to take the financial resources that would have been used for school supplies to pay for food, rent, and other neccessities.Read more...
- See more at: ./index.php?cID=1059#sthash.JXa2Dfdj.dpuf
Just in time for school, 323 children eligible for free and reduced lunches received new backpacks and school supplies. For the fifth year, the Christ Child Society of Summit and Bridges Outreach collaborated to collect hundreds of binders, spiral and composition notebooks, pens, pencils and much more. In addition, $2,500 worth of additional supplies were purchased from funds raised by both groups. It is estimated that each child received supplies valuing $65. Parents were able to take the financial resources that would have been used for school supplies to pay for food, rent, and other neccessities.Read more...
- See more at: ./index.php?cID=1059#sthash.JXa2Dfdj.dpuf
The Christ Child Society of Summit awarded its first annual scholarship on June 12, 2013, to Jackie Balandiuk, a Summit High School senior who will attend Boston University this fall to study psychology. The Scholarship is awarded to a High School senior who lives or attends school in Summit, is in good standing academically, who has volunteered or worked with children, and is continuing their education after high school. Read more...
Special thanks to our 2013 Scholarship committee - Maura Perier, Christina Amundson, Allison Lees, Bev Luehs, and Jackie Browne for reading and evaluating the many applications we received, in a short time frame. Thank you!
Pictured above L to R: Christ Child Co-President Kathryn Colao, SHS Director of Guidance Dr. John Schnedeker, Christ Child Board member Maura Perier, Recipient Jackie Balandiuk, Vanessa Balandiuk, Christ Child Co-President Lori White, and Christ Child Board member Christina Amundson.
Our 2013 Rummage Sale was held on Saturday, October 19th in Memorial Hall from 8 am to 2 pm. Thank you to the scores of people who donated their treasures, to those who gave these treasures a new life by purchasing them, and to the many volunteers who made it all run smoothly. “Customers” were lined up outside our doors for our 8 am opening, and the crowds kept coming until we closed the doors at 2:00 pm! Read more...
It was a successful day all around! Many people got to recycle their “treasures,” and many others got to snatch up those treasures at bargain basement prices! Our young volunteers also ran a successful bake sale, adding to our proceeds. This event has come to be much anticipated by the community. Proceeds will go to fund our programs for children, including our layette program, our school supplies program, and our Christ Child Society scholarship.
Just in time for school, 323 children eligible for free and reduced lunches received new backpacks and school supplies. For the fifth year, the Christ Child Society of Summit and Bridges Outreach collaborated to collect hundreds of binders, spiral and composition notebooks, pens, pencils and much more. In addition, $2,500 worth of additional supplies were purchased from funds raised by both groups. It is estimated that each child received supplies valuing $65. Parents were able to take the financial resources that would have been used for school supplies to pay for food, rent, and other necessities.Read more...
More than twenty volunteers assisted the children during distribution this August. Thanks to a grant from the Summit Area Public Foundation, every child received a new backpack. Bridges, along with Mondo, Hilltop Bank, Coldwell Banker, Lois Schneider Realty, and St. Teresa’s served as donation points for school supplies. Adding to the summer donations, students were asked to contribute supplies before leaving for summer vacation. “This has become a community event. It’s nice to see Summit come together to help its children,” commented Sally Golding and Jane Murphy, co-chairs of the event.
Just in time for school, 323 children eligible for free and reduced lunches received new backpacks and school supplies. For the fifth year, the Christ Child Society of Summit and Bridges Outreach collaborated to collect hundreds of binders, spiral and composition notebooks, pens, pencils and much more. In addition, $2,500 worth of additional supplies were purchased from funds raised by both groups. It is estimated that each child received supplies valuing $65. Parents were able to take the financial resources that would have been used for school supplies to pay for food, rent, and other neccessities.Read more...
- See more at: ./index.php?cID=1059#sthash.JXa2Dfdj.dpuf
Just in time for school, 323 children eligible for free and reduced lunches received new backpacks and school supplies. For the fifth year, the Christ Child Society of Summit and Bridges Outreach collaborated to collect hundreds of binders, spiral and composition notebooks, pens, pencils and much more. In addition, $2,500 worth of additional supplies were purchased from funds raised by both groups. It is estimated that each child received supplies valuing $65. Parents were able to take the financial resources that would have been used for school supplies to pay for food, rent, and other neccessities.Read more...
- See more at: ./index.php?cID=1059#sthash.JXa2Dfdj.dpuf
Just in time for school, 323 children eligible for free and reduced lunches received new backpacks and school supplies. For the fifth year, the Christ Child Society of Summit and Bridges Outreach collaborated to collect hundreds of binders, spiral and composition notebooks, pens, pencils and much more. In addition, $2,500 worth of additional supplies were purchased from funds raised by both groups. It is estimated that each child received supplies valuing $65. Parents were able to take the financial resources that would have been used for school supplies to pay for food, rent, and other neccessities.Read more...
- See more at: ./index.php?cID=1059#sthash.JXa2Dfdj.dpuf
Thank you again to our members and friends who came out to support our second Blankets for Babies Day, sponsored by the Summit Elks, on May 16th. Nearly 30 people, young and old, came by the Elks Lodge on Thursday, May 16th to help cut, pin, sew, fringe and tie blankets for our layettes. The Elks very generously provided a grant for the fleece, as well as volunteers, their lodge, and refreshments. It was a very special day filled with community, camaraderie, good cheer, and good works - all on behalf of needy children. We were able to finish 27 blankets, and ended the day with 134 more in various stages of completion. Thank you to all who helped make the day a success. Many babies will enjoy a warm, adorable blanket because of you. Kudos to Lambi Newsham for initiating contact with the Elks and securing our very first grant!
