The wintry scenes outside our windows are the perfect backdrop for our first ever Winter newsletter.  As our chapter grows, we hope that a shorter and more frequent newsletter will be a better testament to all that we have accomplished together and a good reminder of all that we plan to do this year.

In the words of our founder, Mary Virginia Merrick,"Nothing is ever too much to do for a child" -- these words are our inspiration.  Understanding that the life of a child spans birth to young adulthood, we actively look for ways in which our chapter can serve children in need in our community at each stage of their development.  Layettes for babies, school supplies for school-age students, mentoring and parenting classes for teen mothers at Central High (now formally the Brighter Tomorrows Children's Academy), and a scholarship for local high school seniors.  We see so much need and we try to figure out a way to address it -- with the help of community partners like St. Teresa of Avila and Bridges and always with the personal touch and the heartfelt love that each child deserves.  Thanks to all of your efforts, we are making a difference in the lives of so many children.  As a Board, we are talking about ways in which we could do more, especially in the area of literacy and we welcome your ideas.   Come to our next General Meeting and share them with us! 

Our chapter has been busy this winter, with a Christ Child Day at the Advent Giving Tree, two layette assemblies, a Tiny Toppers event, the December Home Mass  and the January Meeting and Social.  We extend our heartfelt thanks to Peggy Kane for hosting the December Home Mass and for welcoming Anne Kelley, the new National CCS President, as she visited our chapter.  We also extend our thanks to Allison Lees (and to her family) for letting us take over her home for a very successful January meeting and social -- our first Soup Supper (hopefully, the start of a new chapter tradition).   

As we write this, our Blankets for Babies event is imminent and our February Home Mass follows next week at the home of Marjorie Waltzinger.   We are looking forward to warmer temperatures and to our Spring events, especially our signature Baby Shower on March 25th.   

Our membership drive is underway and we recently sent a letter asking members to pay chapter dues.  Like many chapters around the nations, we have restructured membership to include multiple membership levels with a view to increasing potential donations.  Many thanks to those of you who chose to donate to the National Christ Child Society Annual Appeal, which supports our work on behalf of children and that of other member chapters.  Each member of our chapter is a member of the National Christ Child Society and, as a result, we pay national dues for each member.  Your contributions help to defray from our overall chapter contribution to National CCS and help us better focus our limited budget on the children in need in our community. 

Thank you so much for sharing your time and talents with love and laughter.  Our success in helping children is directly linked to the dedication that you bring to recognize that each child is a promise for the future. 

God Bless!

Kathryn Colao and Lori White

Co-Presidents