Each year the Christ Child Society of Pasadena invites its members to contribute money to the Christmas Stocking Fund. The tradition of gift-giving at Christmas can be traced back to the biblical story of the Three Wise Men giving gifts to baby Jesus. These generous donations allow our Christ Child Society to enrich the lives of children in parish schools and religious education programs we support throughout the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County. Our Parish School principals submit the names of families in need and we, in turn, purchase Target gift cards with the funds raised by appeal.
The money typically goes to provide them with basic necessities. One mother’s thank you note described how she purchased new bed sheets, socks, warm pajamas and a toy for each of her three children. She concluded, “God bless you all for loving and caring for me and my kids.”
Members donate at different levels and the money that is raised is used to purchase $75 gift cards for each child in the families who need financial help in our parish schools. In December 2023, we gave 177 children gift cards valued at $75 each for a total of $13,275.00.
We are most grateful to our members who donate. These donations provided families with the resources not only for toys but also for necessities for their children.
The Christmas Stocking Fund is close to the heart of the Christ Child Society, too, because one of Mary Virginia Merrick’s, our founder, first projects was to answer letters to the Christ Child organization from children facing economic hardship asking for necessities at Christmastime. One of the first gifts was a red wagon that a boy named Paul requested to help his mother deliver the wash. Mary recruited her sewing circle to fulfill requests from Paul and his siblings. Each gift was labeled “From the Christ Child” and distributed on Christmas day. Reflecting on the joy she experienced in providing the gifts, Mary said, “The giver and the gift are brought together and the link is the Christ Child ‘our fellow in the manger lying'”*
* From “In Service of the Christ Child: An Illustrated Biography of Mary Virginia Merrick, 1866-1955; Founder of the National Christ Child Society, by Harry Rissetto
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