Our annual service program, United in Service, is traditionally held during the month of November in honor of Christ Child Society Founder Mary Virginia Merrick’s birthday on November 2, 1866. Chapters across the country participate in charitable work in their communities to show that we are united as one in service to children and their families who are in need of resources.
Traditionally, the Past Presidents of the Pasadena Chapter have coordinated the United In Service program (formerly called National Day of Service). Book drives were held in 2022 and 2021. Our generous members and supporters donated over $8,000 which was granted to parish schools and religious education programs in the Greater San Gabriel Valley so they could purchase books for their students.
The 2019 Pandemic curtailed face-to-face contact with students for literacy programs and we recognized that food insecurity was a concern for students who were not receiving breakfast and lunch at their schools. In 2023, the Past Presidents organized a food drive to benefit Catholic Charities of Los Angeles at the San Juan Diego Community Services Center in El Monte, California. The Center serves areas where several of the parish schools with which we work are located.
Members manned drop-off stations at the homes of Terry Clougherty and Becky Sarni. Members and friends in the community came through and our first-ever food drive was a success. We filled six SUVs! We also collected $3,685.00 in cash donations which was used to support the food pantry for an additional six months after the food drive. The food pantry coordinator was overwhelmed by our generosity and could not have been more thankful.
Service days in 2017-2019 included literacy days with a selected school. Members read a book to small groups of children and a theme-related craft followed. After their craft was complete, children were treated to refreshments. Each child then took one to three donated books as they left to begin to build their home library in hopes they share their books with siblings.
Our first Christ Child Society of Pasadena National Day of Service in 2016 was held on the Mayfield Senior School campus in Pasadena. Members, friends, and students gathered to participate in a variety of activities to prepare items for our layettes. Diapers, onesies, towels, socks and more were sorted and bundled for distribution. Onesies were hand-embellished, baby hats were woven on small looms, fleece baby blankets were made, and hand-knit/crocheted blankets and other baby items were lovingly created.
Looking towards the future, Christ Child Society of Pasadena anticipates helping to plan and carry out book drives, food drives or clothing drives when and where we find a need in our community.
Our book drives are usually focused at the parish schools and religious education programs that we support. We ask for donations of books (either new or in good condition) that have been identified by the PALS program coordinated through the Parish Representatives via the Parish School Principals.
Christ Child Society of Pasadena has also conducted food drives and clothing drives to provide help to support the Catholic Charities Good Shepherd Shelter which is a transitional shelter for mothers and children impacted by domestic violence.
Learn more about being a part of Christ Child Society of Pasadena.