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Chapter and Verse
News from the Christ Child Society November 2009  Volume 1/Issue 3 
The Christ Child Society of Summit is a non-denominational organization which encourages and provides an opportunity for concerned women in our area to become engaged in the giving of their time, talent, and treasure in order to have a positive and immediate impact in the lives of at-risk children in our community.

Our Board

President
Lambi Newsham
 
Vice Presidents
Margaret Whelan
Gery McKenna
Kathryn Colao
 
Treasurer
Maura Perier
 
Secretary
Ann Marvin
 

Welcome our newest members!

Nancy Elia

Cara Forrest

Mary Therese Hankinson

Allison Lees

Linda Massengill

Lisa McDonald
 
Lisa O'Hearn
 
Eileen Rath
 

Keep us in the loop!

 
Help us keep you informed! Please contact Kathryn Colao with your address, telephone or email changes.
 
 

 Spirituality 

 
We continue to meet on the first Tuesday of each month for morning mass at 8:30 at St. Teresa's.  Please join us.  This is a wonderful way to start each month.
 A Letter from the President
 
"It is the personal element that brings true charity into life."
-Mary Virginia Merrick
 
Having just returned from the National Christ Child Society Annual Conference in Washington DC, it is with great excitement that I inform you that the Summit Chapter will shed its provisional status and be inducted as a full chapter at the next National Convention in Cleveland in September 2010. 
 
This is a HUGE milestone for our chapter and it couldn't have been done without each of you.  Thank you for what you have done and what you will continue to do for our Chapter.
 
 A couple things I took away from the Conference that are worth mentioning:
1.      Our provisional chapter is holding its own in comparison to the other chapters around the country.  While we are small and growing, we have achieved much success;
2.      The conference is more than learning about how to do new things.  It is important for us to convey what we have done well; and,
3.      Our board needs to continue its passion in helping needy children in our area while keeping up to date on the needs in our community and look for opportunities to fundraise.
 
Our chapter had made tremendous strides in following the teachings of our founder Mary Virginia Merrick by serving at risk children in our area.   It's almost surreal all the good things our chapters has been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time:
·        Grew a steady membership of 50 strong committed women;
·        Delivered over 300 layettes to Health Start;
·        Delivered over 200 bags of school supplies to the public schools in the past 2 years;
·        Started the Knitting Angels group which has grown and sewn by leaps and bounds across the town;
·        Began our very own newsletter;
·        Developed the tribute cards program as lovely memorials and fundraisers at the same time.
 
And, of course, we can now say that we successfully completed our Collectibles and Delectibles event by raising a huge $4000! Thanks to all who helped out with this event.  It was a huge success.
 
 
Wishing you every blessing,
 

Lambi Newsham
National Christ Child Society
Board Members Come to Summit
 
This past June, National Christ Child Society
Board President, Mary Graves (front row, second from right) and Vice President, Roseanne Anderson (left of Mrs. Graves) joined Summit
Christ Child Society Chapter board members at the Spring Cocktail Party.  The evening was a tribute to all the Summit Chapter members who have tirelessly volunteered their time to help children in need.
 
Pictured from left to right are:  Maura Perier,
Gery McKenna, Roseanne Anderson, Margaret Whelan, Mary Graves, Ann Marvin and Lambi Newsham.
 

Ladies Night Out!  


Mark your calendars for 7:00 p.m. November 19th!  You're invited to a shopping event featuring selections from the  Caught-A-Bug line of one of a kind jeweled original hand and wine bags, Silpada Designer Jewelry and designer jeans at wholesale prices.
 
Join us at 107 Mountain Avenue for early Christmas Shopping or a special something for you!  A portion of the proceeds will be contributed to the Christ Child Society of Summit.
   
Quick Links

 Knitting Angels Update   


The Knitting Angels are clicking their needles and eager to begin their second season.  Last year, we contributed 180 lovingly hand-made baby items for our layettes (this well surpassed our goal of 30)!!  They included knitted hats and sweaters, crocheted hand-sewn flannel blankets.  The Oak Knoll School teachers and students were our "gold medalists," along with the ladies at the United Methodist Church in Basking Ridge and many other individual knitters.
 
This year, we hope to continue our knitted hats (simple hat "kits" with pattern, yarn and needles are available).  We are also making a push for youth groups (Girl Scouts, middle school students, etc.) to make fleece blankets.  To facilitate this, we are creating fleece blanket "kits."  Please contact Angela Schroeder (schroederkids@comcast.net or 908-522-1033) if you are interested in being part of this vibrant group or if you can put us in touch with someone willing to help out!
 

 Layettes Make a Difference! 

 This past summer we replenished the supply of layettes to the Health Start Clinic at Overlook Hospital.  Please consider becoming involved in assisting with the next chapter in our layette program which will involve supplying clothing for infants and children who have passed the newborn stage.  We are partnering with the Community Food Bank in this endeavor.  Please contact Joan Kelly at jckelly3619@yahoo.com for further information.
 

School Supply Drive  

Learn to Give...Give to Learn 


The CCS of Summit successfully completed our second annual School Supply Drive.  Themed "Learn to Give...Give to Learn", our committee worked to spread the word about our drive and its recipients, the public schools right here in Summit.  We placed collection boxes throughout Summit during the month of May, at the YMCA, the Connection, St Teresa's, and the individual Summit schools. We met throughout the summer months and gathered additional supplies thanks to a generous donation from Christ Child Society of Summit. In August, we collated the supplies based on the needs identified by each of the schools, and we delivered the supplies immediately prior to the opening day of school.
 
In the end, we were able to allocate supplies to begin a successful year for 185 Summit students. In addition to the standard supplies, we also received a generous gift of 20 backpacks from an anonymous source.  We are thrilled with the wonderful growth this drive has achieved. We look forward to joining with Bridges and the YMCA for next years drive. We hope this will allow us to reach deeper into our community to provide even more children with school items so essential to beginning a school year on the right foot. We are always looking for new members to join our group. For any questions or further information please contact Gery McKenna at gsmrun86@aol.com.
                         

 Yard Sale                                                                              

 
 
 Collectibles and Delectibles! 
CCS members and family helpers await the opening of the doors at the first annual Collectibles and Delectibles sale held on October 17th at Memorial Hall. 
 
 

 
Memorial Cards Available 
 
A great idea for the upcoming Christmas Season!
 
For $10 you can purchase either a beautiful Honor Card to celebrate a loved one during the glorious Christmas season; or a memorial card in remembrance of a deceased loved one.  All card donations go towards the purchase of layettes for needy children in the Summit area.
 
For more information about this exciting program, please contact Mary Kull at 908-273-0555/marykykull@att.net or go to St. Teresa's Rectory.
 
Annual Giving Campaign--National Christ Child Society
 

As mentioned in the Presidents Letter, we expect that our Chapter will become a full member of the Society in 2010. With this honor comes responsibilities - one being our need to take part in the National Annual Giving Campaign  Each member is encouraged to take part in the campaign.  Your contribution supports the Christ Child Society's mission and preserves the Guiding Principles of Mary Virginia Merrick by:
 
*     Unifying Chapters through support and direction of a National Board of Directors.
*    Creating annual opportunities for networking and educational sessions-Conference and Convention.
*    Providing Chapters with current nonprofit information, up-to-date resource materials, and open communication with the national office
*    Guiding Chapters with program planning/implementation through the Challenging Poverty initiative.
*    Expanding into new communities and assisting newly Chartered Chapters (such as our own)!
 
We join all Christ Child Chapter members in supporting the vision and mission of our founder, Mary Virginia Merrick, as we collaborate to serve the growing number of needy children in our community.

 

                        Our Membership is Strong!                    

 Our chapter is currently at 57 active members.  As we continue to work on our outreach projects, we strive to engage all of our current members in a meaningful way, and to gain new members to help us continue the mission.
 
We are thrilled to welcome the newest members to our society.  Their names are on noted above. Their membership brings the number of new members in 2009 to sixteen, with more in the pipeline!  Please take time to introduce yourself and extend a warm welcome to these women when you see them out and about and at our meetings and activities.
 
Tell all of your friends about what we do and what the Christ Child Society is all about!  Have a friend that may be interested in joining Christ Child?  Bring her to our next meeting, or contact Membership with her name and contact information, and we will follow up for you.  Mark your calendars for our social evening on January 12, 2010; the event is a great opportunity to "bring a friend" and introduce them to the Christ Child Society.

 

                                              Good Samaritan
 
We are interested in developing a prayer list for members intentions.  It is our expectation that we can then advise the members each month and keep those needy in mind at the monthly mass on the first Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.  If you have any friends and / or family in need of our prayers please submit the information to Lori White or Tracy Stabler.

CCSS Dates to Remember

November 10th         General Membership Meeting in Memorial Hall      9 a.m.
 
November 19th        Ladies Night Out
 
January 12th            Social Event--Information TBA   
                  
To learn more about our activities and opportunities:
 
Kathryn Colao     Membership           908-598-7202/kathryncolao@gmail.com 
 
Joan Kelly           Layettes              jckelly3619@yahoo.com
 
Mary Kull            Memorial Cards      908-273-0555/marykull@att.net
 
Gery McKenna      School Supplies     Gsmrun86@aol.com
 
Angela Schroeder  Knitting Angels      908-522-1033/schroederkids@comcast.net
 
Lori White            Spirituality            908-27309283/thewhitefamily@yahoo.com