What We Do
We Provide Necessities for Babies
Layettes
Our layettes are bundles of baby items that help each family and baby get off to a loving start by providing them with basic necessities, as well as handmade gifts which remind them that they are loved and cared for. Clothing such as onesies, pajamas, and an outfit, a handmade fleece blanket, a knit tiny topper, and a board book are included in our bundles, which are given to babies at local hospitals and other social services organizations.
Blankets for Babies
We are committed to including one adorable handmade fleece blanket in each layette bundle we give. Our blankets wrap babies in love and warmth. We come together to make blankets as a group, and blankets are also made and donated by gifted volunteers including scout troops, and young students.
Tiny Toppers/Knitting Angels
Due to the devotion of our Knitting Angels, a hand made knitted item is included in each layette. Our beautiful baby hats, or tiny toppers, are made with love by members and friends, young and old, from near and far. Knitting is a loving devotion that binds us together with a common purpose – to come together in fellowship for the love of a child.
Diaper Distribution/ABC
The goal of our Area Baby Center (ABC) is to provide basic necessities such as diapers, baby wipes, and toiletries to babies from under served families in our community. By providing these items, we hope to ease the burden of parents caring for a baby up to two years of age and to show the love and support of the community.
Community Partners:
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Overlook Hospital Healthstart Clinic
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Morristown Hospital Healthstart Clinic
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Overlook Hospital Mother Baby Unit
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BirthHaven
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Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges
Volunteer Opportunities:
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De-tag, sort, bundle and deliver baby clothes to community partners
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Make blankets – plenty of non-sewing skills are needed!
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Join us as we knit, crochet, and chat together making adorable tiny toppers
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Help distribute diapers monthly to our client families
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Plan special events and activities for our client families
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Hold a diaper drive, host a baby shower, organize a book drive--the possibilities are endless!
We Promote Early Childhood Literacy
Tutoring
We partner with an under-resourced Catholic school and provide reading, math, and classwork assistance in order to improve academic outcomes for young students. We hope to foster meaningful relationships with these students, instilling self-confidence and trust along the way.
Readers to Leaders
Our goal is simple: to work together to help young children love reading. We visit a Pre-K classroom once a month and read a book, discuss the theme, sing songs and move around, and then work on a craft related to the book/theme. We provide a healthy snack and give each child a book of his or her own to bring home. This fulfills our secondary goal of helping to build a home library for each child.
We Provide Tools for Success
School Supplies
We have partnered with local community partners to ensure that all Summit children who need assistance are given the necessary supplies to start their school year off right. Parents are able to take the financial resources that would have been used for school supplies to pay for food, rent, and other necessary items.
Christ Child Society of Summit Scholarship
The Christ Child Society of Summit Scholarship is awarded annually on a one-time basis to a student who lives or goes to school in Summit, who has displayed academic achievement, and has worked or volunteered with children. Since its inception, we have awarded $34,000 to deserving students to continue their education beyond high school.
We Enjoy Chapter Traditions
Baby Shower Luncheon & Mass
This annual event serves as a major giving source for our layette program. Our shower is widely attended and has become a highly anticipated and lovely tradition.
Blankets for Babies Day
Since 2013, our members and friends have come together on our Blankets for Babies days to make hundreds of adorable fleece blankets. These days are filled with friendship, fellowship, and the joy of making blankets that are a precious and useful gift for the families receiving our layette bundles.
Rummage Sale
An abundance of household treasures are donated and offered for sale to others in the community, and thus kept out of landfills. Proceeds benefit our programs for children, and un-purchased items are in turn donated to charities primarily focused on setting up homes for those in need. Our members just love working and shopping at this sale each year!
