May 8, 2025 at 9:08 a.m.
MOMS HELPING MOMS
Every second Sunday in May, mothers around the world wake up to a day of praise.
From terribly tasting pancakes cooked by the kids (but made with love!) and crayon-covered Mother’s Day signs, to written cards of admiration and flowers on gravestones of the beloved moms before us, there are countless ways children, partners, family and friends take time to celebrate the past and present mothers of their lives.
In the same tune, Christ the King in Westmere holds an annual Mother’s Day Baby Shower donation drive for the Christ Child Society, helping collect diapers, onesies and other newborn items that are organized and then distributed to social service agencies to deliver to moms in need.
The shower couldn’t be more crucial than this year: as prices in the grocery stores continue to climb, so does the need for help.
“I think, unfortunately, just like everything else with the economy, just like food pantries are seeing an increase, we’re seeing the same thing,” said Nancy Doyle, layette chairperson for the Christ Child Society’s Albany Chapter.
In 2022, the Christ Child Society of Albany made and distributed 521 layettes to the various agencies. That number rose to 700 in 2023, and again in 2024, up to 745. This year, the Albany chapter has already distributed 337 layettes and anticipates another increase in their annual total.
“We feel so fortunate that we’re able to provide the layettes as the numbers have increased,” Doyle said. “We are just a non-profit organization so we can only pack the layettes based on our donations, both in goods and also in monetary donations, and so far I’ve never had to say to any agency that’s asked that we don’t have the layettes and, I’m just hoping that can go forwards.”
The national Christ Child Society organization was founded in 1866 by Mary Virginia Merrick, who devoted herself to serving children in need, inspired by her love of the Christ Child. In 2023, the Albany Diocese’s chapter celebrated its 50th anniversary, after making its debut in 1973.
The layettes are the NCCS signature program that all chapters participate in, with chapters all across the country delivering layette bundles to health departments, pregnancy care centers and social service agencies.
Each layette, or baby bundle, is filled with infant clothing and essentials, baby board books and care information provided by the Christ Child Society.
In Albany, the layettes are distributed to 28 different social service agencies within the Albany Diocese, serving multiple sites within the Capital District, but also out into Warrensburg (North Country Ministries), Herkimer (Catholic Charities of Herkimer County), and in Hudson/Catskill (Catholic Charities of Columbia and Greene Counties.)
A popular location is the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center on Central Avenue in Albany, which offers an OBGYN office that focuses on care for predominantly underserved patients, many of whom don’t have insurance.
“The patients love the bags and they’re always excited about it, always happy to receive it, especially the blankets that they knit,” said Margarette Daniels, LPN supervisor in the office.
Daniels keeps track of when the layettes are running low and when to call Doyle about bringing over more. Typically, each delivery comes with 10-15 girl layettes and 10-15 boy layettes, with Daniels reaching out every two to three weeks.
“We’re definitely seeing a lot more OB patients than we were in previous years,” Daniels said. “I’m constantly reaching out to Nancy … because we go through them a lot.”
Some moms who had their first baby at Whitney Young will return for their second pregnancies and know that a layette bag is coming. And while the bags might not hold much, it’s the kind gesture of it that sticks with moms: that someone put this together, and that someone was looking out for them.
“(Patients) come to the postpartum appointment and they’re like, ‘I’m so excited to get my bag!’ ” Daniels laughed. “It’s really nice.”
Doyle noted that the layette program wouldn’t be possible without the help from local parishes, including Christ the King, Blessed Sacrament in Albany, St. Thomas the Apostle in Delmar, and St. Joseph’s in Scotia.
Vicky Myers and Kate Lansing, parishioners at Christ the King, both help organize the Mother’s Day Baby Shower event for their church. This year’s event is currently running, with collections open from April 26 to May 18.
The baby shower operates similarly to a parish’s giving tree during Advent and Christmas: tags are strung up by Lansing and Myers in the gathering space with requests for baby items for the layettes. Everyone who takes a tag buys the item and brings it back to the gathering space for collection.
“I would watch each Sunday as these amazing gifts would pour in,” Lansing said. “People were knitting blankets and sweaters — we still get knit sweaters with hoodies and socks. The outpouring has been tremendous and I think it has just continued to grow every year.”
Doyle, who has been a member of the NCCS Albany chapter for over 40 years, joined shortly after having kids of her own. Being able to help out moms during that early stage was “such an important and positive” service — something that continues to ring true today.
“Now, especially when you see the cost, the costs are just astronomical,” said Doyle. “It really is unbelievable, so we’re just so happy we can provide what we do.”
Added Lansing: “Events kind of come and go sometimes, and this is still something that people get behind. It’s there every year, but who doesn’t want to rally around a baby? I think that’s a powerful thing.”
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