Chapter Leadership

I feel humbled and honored to serve as President of the Christ Child Society of Fort Wayne in 2026. This year marks 28 years since our chapter was founded in 1998 with just 24 members. Today, we are blessed to have more than 215 members, all committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of the most vulnerable children in our community.

The history of the Christ Child Society is rooted in the remarkable life of our foundress, Mary Virginia Merrick (1866–1955). Paralyzed as a teenager, she remained steadfast in her desire to serve poor children and founded the Christ Child Society in 1887 in Washington, D.C. She saw the Christ Child in every child she served, and her motto— “Nothing is ever too much to do for a child”—continues to inspire our work today.

Together, our members assemble infant layette bags filled with baby necessities for local hospitals, charities, and pregnancy help centers. We read to preschool children, lead crafts, and distribute books. We provide backpacks for foster children, distribute underwear, socks, coats, hats, and gloves to schools and agencies, support the Crib Clubs in the four Women’s Care Centers in our area, and partner with numerous agencies to meet the needs of the less fortunate. Through these service projects, we strive to live out another guiding motto of the Christ Child Society: “To find a need and fill it.”

Our members find joy in serving together and forming lasting friendships. We are blessed with women who have been active for many years, as well as having mothers and daughters, daughters‑in‑law, and sisters who volunteer side by side. We serve together, plan fundraising events together, pray together, and—very often—have a great deal of fun along the way. We hope & pray that anyone reading this will join us on this journey and support the Christ Child Society of Fort Wayne!