Other Service Projects

The Christ Child Society of Northern Michigan is active in many service projects in addition to the Layettes, Backpacks, Showers of Love, and Christmas projects.

Blanket Brigade

This project is a good way to begin to meet members while working on the fleece blankets in our Christ Child House. There is no need to know how to sew. The blankets are cut to the correct dimensions and all a member needs to do is follow the written directions for making small slits and tying knots.  There are two ways to participate: either come to one of the monthly sessions and/or pick up a bag of blankets and work at home.  There is a blanket sign out sheet on a clip board as you enter the Christ Child House.  These blankets are used for the Head Start Backpack Program and the Foster Care Kits.  In 2024, 310 blankets were made and distributed.

Read to Me

Members read age appropriate books to preschoolers once a month and the book that was read is gifted to each child to take home.  By doing this, we hope someone at home will read to the child and encourage a love of reading.  Volunteers read in ten locations in Emmet and Cheboygan counties.  In 2024, 180 children participated in “Read to Me” with a distribution of 1,437 books.

Diaper Pantry

The Diaper Pantry Project provides diapers to families in need. The pantry is located in the Manna Food Pantry building (8791 McBride Park Court, Harbor Springs, MI 49740) and diapers are available for pick up on the 1st and 3rd Friday from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.  In 2024, 511 packages of diapers for infants and toddlers were dispensed for 321 clients.

Foster Care Kits

The goal of the Foster Care Project is to provide basic needs to a child who is removed from his/her home by the Department of Health & Human Services (DHSS) for a variety of tragic reasons.  Hopefully, having a backpack, new clothes, stuffed animal (younger children), handmade fleece blanket, book, journal material (older children), earbuds (older children) and a toiletry kit helps the child achieve a sense of security in this difficult time in his/her life.  A small piece of luggage was added in 2020 to avoid having the child place their belongings in a trash bag. The Christ Child Society of Northern Michigan is now providing a birthday card with an enclosed gift card on the birthday of each child who remains in the Foster Care System. In 2024, 35 children received support.

Scholarships

The Christ Child Society of Northern Michigan has been assisting high school students with future education for over ten years.

Our scholarship program has expanded from several $1000 awards to a comprehensive effort for college, trade schools, vocational training and career certifications.

This year (2026), we will offer graduating seniors a scholarship up to $5000. The scholarships are for students attending a technical or vocational school, college or university, or community college in Michigan. Selection will be based primarily on financial need as well as academic achievement.

We have partnered with the North Central Michigan College Foundation to establish a Christ Child Society Scholarship. Students interested in NCMC can apply directly to the Foundation for one of these scholarships. The Foundation is very generous with support and financial assistance.

Christ Child is very interested in supporting students in the trades and the workforce. We have established a fund to assist with further training in their chosen field. A separate application for assistance is available for continuing education.

Applications and information are available from local school counselors. The deadline is March 1, 2026.

Selection Criteria: Selection based on financial need and academic achievement.

Process:

• Application
• Official transcript
• Letter of recommendation by educator, supervisor, religious advisor or community member
• Essay

Wolverine Outreach Project

The Wolverine Outreach project serves the needs of the students in the Wolverine School District.  The Christ Child Project Chair contacts the local school district quarterly to assess their needs and provides any items identified by the staff.  This may include shopping, delivery of items and/or provision of funds. In 2022, 254 children were served.

The Wolverine School District maintains a clothing closet for students.  This closet is stocked by the chairperson with support by Christ Child volunteers and includes jeans, sweatshirts, coats, shoes, shirts, socks, and basic toiletries. 

Special Requests

Christ Child Society provides support of a significant number of special requests each year, including winter clothing (hats, boots, coats and gloves) and books to resupply school book vending machines.

I’d like to help…

You can be a part of this rewarding program by Joining Us in the Christ Child Society of Northern Michigan or by donating for the supplies for our Shower of Love.