In 1887, Mary Virginia Merrick, a young woman driven by compassion, recognized the struggles faced by poor children and their families in Washington, DC. The initial volunteer organization she founded at the age of 21 was named “The Christ Child Society,” and it still operates today, 139 years later. Under her leadership, the Christ Child Society grew from a local charitable operation into a national network of 44 chapters operating in cities across America. What makes this story even more remarkable is that in her early teens, Mary suffered a fall that caused a severe and permanent spinal injury, leaving her unable to walk and confining her to a reclining chair or her bed.
However, instead of becoming isolated, she gathered family members,
friends, and parish members to her home in northwest DC, and later at #1 Melrose Street in Chevy Chase, to sew layettes – a set of clothing and blankets for newborns.
Today, layettes remain the signature Christ Child program with layette kits containing essential items like clothing, diapers, books, and blankets distributed to low-income mothers and their newborns. Every year, the Christ Child Society of DC provides over 3,500 layette welcome kits, weighing over 490 pounds. Local knitters make over 4,000 blankets a year!
It is difficult today to realize the extreme poverty and deep social divisions that existed in Washington in the 1880’s and 90’s, especially among immigrant families. Mary was an important figure in the history of early social reform in Washington. She was told that society would never survive unless she had a religious group to support her work, but she was determined to keep it a volunteer organization solely run by lay people. The result was the first women-run non-profit and the second Catholic non-profit in DC. “What I especially like about the Christ Child Society,” states Kathleen Curtin, the chapter’s executive director, “is the combination of volunteers and professional staff working together for high impact.”
Mary Virginia and her sisters and friends followed the motto, “If you see a need, fill it”, and expanded the society’s programs to include a Christmas gifts program, clothing and shoe distribution, summer camps for girls, and boys, gymnasiums, summer fresh air programs, sending kids to the country, medical and convalescent care for sick children, as well as settlement houses. At one point, the society had seven settlement houses scattered throughout the city, providing classes to train children in carpentry and even languages, and some offered language classes for parents. As the number of impoverished children changed, the Society’s programs evolved to meet them while keeping its mission the same. Today, the DC Christ Child Society serves over 10,500 children and families throughout the year.
In its Girls on the Rise Program, the DC chapter provides after-school
activities, summer camp, and family services to girls in grades 1–8.
Queens on the Rise focuses on students in high school, college, and
career alumnae of the program.
Today, the DC Society provides school-based support, called “student
success”, which includes providing books (book bunch) for children in Pre-K through first grade. Christ Child tutors go to local middle and high schools to help students develop a love of learning and reading, and they support the transition from middle school to high school and high school to college. Not to be missed is The Christ Child Opportunity Shop, located at 1427 Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown, a high-end consignment store that markets and sells fine jewelry, antiques, sterling silver, and crystal. Mary Virginia purchased the shop property in 1933, and it has operated there for the past 93 years. It is mainly staffed by volunteers, and all proceeds from the Shop go to support the Washington, DC CCS chapter.
The continued success of the Christ Child Society is a living testimony to Mary Virginia Merrick’s virtuous life and efforts. Today, the Catholic Church has named her a “Servant of God”, the first step towards canonization.
The Christ Child Society of DC is always ready to welcome new members and volunteers to provide much-needed assistance to children in need and their families, regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, or background. To learn more about this organization, go to www.christchilddc.org, email info@christchilddc.org, or call 202-966-9250.
“What I especially like about the Christ Child Society is the combination of volunteers and professional staff working together for high impact.”