In 1884, Mary Virginia Merrick began the Christ Child Society with a gift of baby clothes, handmade by herself, to a mother in need and her baby. This layette was the design for the Christ Child Society layette of today. Every year over ten thousand layettes are distributed as a result of this first simple act of charity. The layette is the first step into the Challenging Poverty One Child at a Time initiative for the child, for the family and for the community.

Chapters assemble a gift package of baby care items such as blankets, diapers, clothing, toiletry items and child care information. Hand made items still are a special piece in most of the Society’s layettes.

As long as there are babies in need, a gift layette in honor of the Christ Child will be the link to the founder of the Society.