LCHC makes Baby’s First Christmas memorable

LYNN – The attendance may have been down from past years, but the spirit of the holiday was alive and well at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall Friday as the Lynn Community Health Center hosted its 11th annual Baby’s First Christmas Celebration.Health center patients who gave birth to a baby since last Christmas are invited to attend the event with their families. Hosted by the Obstetrics and Pediatric staff, the party featured a buffet, desserts, raffles, pictures with Santa Claus and a free gift bag for every child.This year, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley was the guest of honor, trekking up the coast from Boston to be a part of the unique celebration. She met with families and health center administrators, even having her picture taken with Santa before she announced the winners in the gift basket raffle.While her visit was mainly informal, Coakley took time out to sing the praises of the health center, calling it one of the best in the state.”In my first year as Attorney General, I have started to take a look at community health centers across the state and this center is a shining star. I would love to see more places like this in the other areas of the state that I have been to,” she said. “It is not just about doctors delivering babies and helping when they are sick, it is about wellness in that first year, which is so critical. The help and support of this community center and everyone involved is so important.”The event was made possible by several donors, including Coakley’s staff, who raised over $300 for the purchase of new strollers. Each child was presented with a gift bag featuring a sleeper and bib, donated by the health center’s development committee, a beanie baby donated by North Shore Medical Center and a book courtesy of the center’s Reach out and Read program.In past years, the event has attracted over 80 families, but organizers estimated only 45-50 families took part this year because of the sloppy conditions left over from Thursday’s snowstorm.For employees and volunteers at the health center, the celebration is a way to bring some joy to families who are struggling financially, and who may not have the opportunity to provide a proper holiday for their families.Over 480 babies were born at the health center in 2007, and 73 percent of them are to single mothers, according to statistics released by the health center. Almost 60 percent of those children are born to immigrant families, and 93 percent are low-income by federal standards.”The enthusiasm of this staff is infectious around this project,” said Coakley. “This is truly a community effort. They develop a great personal bond with the families that they work with.”