December Babies At Franciscan Health Lafayette East Receive Handmade Christmas Stockings

LAFAYETTE, Indiana - A yearly tradition, which began back in the 1970s, continues this year as Franciscan Health Lafayette East celebrates the spirit of the holiday season, by gifting babies born around Christmas with handmade, one-of-a-kind stockings made by volunteers. 

Once completed, the stockings, which are larger than a regular stocking, provide an opportunity for parents to put their newborn in the stocking for a unique holiday photo. In addition to the stockings, babies will also receive elf hats and burp cloths.

Volunteers from the 4M Sewing Group in Linden, Indiana, made 79 stockings this year, providing a hand sewn keepsake for babies born in December to take home. The 4M Sewing Group consists of all Franciscan Health Lafayette volunteers. The group also makes puppy pillows and heart pillows for the hospital year-round. The fabric and stuffing for the projects is donated by Franciscan Health Auxiliary Lafayette.

"The long tradition of the baby Christmas stockings has always been very special for the hospital and families," said Lisa Green, Volunteer Services manager, Franciscan Health Lafayette. "The 4M volunteers spend a lot of time making the beautiful stockings and really put their hearts into each one. The stocking is a very special 'First Christmas' keepsake for each family to take home and we are grateful for the hospital volunteers who make this so special."

Stockings are for photo purposes only – not for babies to sleep in. To encourage safe sleep practices at home, all babies born at Franciscan Health – no matter what month they are born – receive a Halo SleepSack to encourage safe sleep practices.

Franciscan Health Lafayette East is located at 1701 South Creasy Lane in Lafayette.