In the lead-up to Easter, local women gathered to package diapers, bibs and baby food for newborns, as part of the 20th Annual Lenten Layette event at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Los Gatos, March 30.
Since 2003, St. Mary’s has celebrated new life by preparing layettes for newborn babies during the Easter season.
A layette is a child’s first set of clothing and accessories.
The purpose of the collection is to provide items for newborn babies who otherwise would leave the hospital without basic necessities such as blankets, clothing and diapers.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Relief Society women’s organization partnered with St. Mary’s to donate and collect baby supplies.
The volunteers counted more than 5,000 diapers, formula, blankets, bottles, onesies, hats, bibs, comfort items and gift cards.
This year under new leadership, Dianna McKay invited the St. Mary’s school children to participate in donating items, making gift cards and helping fill over 70 gift bags.
The baby layettes are shared with several partner organizations, including Sacred Heart, Birthright, Real Options, Santa Maria Urban Ministries and Hispanic Ministries in Monterey who are helping those displaced by recent floods from the Pajaro levee break.
After gathering items, repackaging diapers, and removing tags, participants met at St. Mary’s to assemble layettes gift bags for delivery.
The event concluded with a pot luck lunch and fellowship.
