Gift of Life in Holiday Wrapping by Christian Shepherd - City News Group, Inc.
View Upcoming Events View Your Local Sales

Community Calendar

◄ JUNE ►
S M T W T F S
31 01 02 03 04 05 06
07 08 09 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 01 02 03 04
View Events
Submit Events

Gift of Life in Holiday Wrapping

By Christian Shepherd, Staff Writer
January 8, 2015 at 06:23pm. Views: 147

During the month of December, the Redlands Community Hospital partnered with the Redlands Sewing Center continued an 83-year-old tradition for the holiday season. Since 1930, the Linen Committee, now known as the Sewing Committee, comprised of hospital volunteers, have wrapped babies born in December in holiday stockings as they head home for the first time. “My favorite part is seeing the new families get excited to see their children go home in the stockings,” said Nikyah Pfeiffer, marketing manager of the Redlands Community Hospital. While the program has been running for over 80 years, there was a brief time that the committee saw a decline in membership and was forced to temporarily halt the program. One volunteer, Sylvia Terifay, was instrumental in restarting the program in 2005. She reached out to many different sewing and crafts organizations while trying to restart the program, but it was the Redlands Sewing Center who answered the call help revitalize the holiday tradition. “It seemed logical to utilize people in the community who like to sew,” said Terifay. “I was ecstatic when I got confirmation from the store owner. I knew Redlands Sewing Center would come through in keeping the tradition alive.” Terifay begins the work for the holiday stockings in August, when she starts collecting the fabric and materials for the stockings. The program has embedded itself throughout the community in the last 83 years. “It’s great to see the replies on social media and the people who still have their stockings from so many years ago,” said Pfeiffer. “This is a true labor of love given by all of the volunteers in the Redlands Sewing Center,” said Lauren Spilsbury, Vice President of Patient Services. “We are so grateful to them for helping us keep such a great tradition alive. The staff loves to present the parents with the stocking, and they are always extremely excited about the gift.” The program has anywhere from five to 15 volunteers annually. As of Dec. 30, there have been 224 babies born in the Redlands Community Hospital who went home in holiday wrapping. “The best part about the tradition has to be seeing all of the babies go home in their stockings,” said Terifay. “Babies are cute enough on their own; the stockings just add a little something extra.”

Related Articles

Highland GLO MedSpa Celebrates Grand Opening, Bringing Advanced Medical Aesthetics to the Highland Community
Photo Courtesy of: Highland Glo MedSpa

By Highland Glo MedSpa, Contributing Writer

June 24, 2026 at 12:29pm. Views: 336

Claudia Torres, Aesthetics Consultant, Mairah Angulo, Aesthetics Consultant, Jill Ali, FNP-C (Provider), Dr. Namita Mohideen, MD, CEO, Dr. Kelly Jeu, MD, Provider, Dr. Jose Arciniega, DO, Provider, Ilsse Castillo, Office Manager, Alexia Sanchez, Office Manager

The Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California Proves Its Relevance in a Changing America
Photo Courtesy of: The Civil Rights Institute

By Carl M. Dameron, Contributing Writer

June 24, 2026 at 12:29pm. Views: 346

Photo caption: The Civil Rights Institute Board of Directors and the community celebrate the Woman of Achievement Awardee. Photo L to R: Ken Gutierrez, The Civil Rights Institute Board Member; Kathy Wright, Community Leader; Sabrina Gonzalez, Civil Rights Institute Executive Director; Launa Wilson, The Civil Rights Institute Board President; Q'Vinc Asberry, The Civil Rights Institute Board Member; Irma Asberry, Community Leader/Retired Judge, Superior Court of Riverside County.

Turning Grades into Goals: San Bernardino Students Honored for Academic Triumphs
Photo Courtesy of: Chris Sloan

By Carl M. Dameron, Contributing Writer

June 24, 2026 at 12:29pm. Views: 308

Valdez Educational Services President Aaron Valdez, SBCUSD ETSA Wil Greer, Ionatauna Asu, Student, Equity guest teacher Fernando Tanioka, then Equity Counselor Francine Blacksher, celebrate Asu’s achievement, taking his grades from a low F to a high A, at An Evening of Excellence.

Colton Chamber of Commerce New president

Photo Courtesy of: Christina Gaitan

By Chamber Inducted new President , Community Writer

June 24, 2026 at 12:29pm. Views: 290

left to right -Nelky Rodriguez ( secretary) - Arnise Dejohnette ( board member)- Anna Juarez (board member) David Toro (Council member) Belen Cordero(Board member) - Javier Gomez (treasurer) City Manager -Mayor Frank Navarro- Brian Childstrom (Emeritus) Christina Gaitan (Coordinator) Shelley Burnach ( Vice President ) Lesley Stevens ( Board member) Frank Aguliar (president ) Matthew Hernandez (board member) Councilman Dr. G - Chief Vega Colton Police Department .

Pet of the Week: Goose
Photo Courtesy of: City of Moreno Valley

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

June 24, 2026 at 12:29pm. Views: 197

Goose. He is a one-year-old, male brown Shepherd mix. He's full of personality and even knows how to stand on two legs and shake hands, which is sure to impress everyone he meets!

Celebrate 250 Years of Freedom
Photo Courtesy of: City of Moreno Valley

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

June 24, 2026 at 12:29pm. Views: 243

Celebrate the Fourth of July Celebration at the City of Moreno Valley’s Civic Center Amphitheater on Saturday, July 4, 2026!

First 5 Riverside County and Supervisor Gutierrez Celebrate New Child Care Classrooms in Moreno Valley
Photo Courtesy of: County of Riverside

By William Cortez, Community Writer

June 24, 2026 at 12:29pm. Views: 256

Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez joins Jan Peterson and First 5 Riverside County leadership for the Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony

SPARK Youth Employment Program

Photo Courtesy of: County of San Bernardino

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

June 24, 2026 at 12:29pm. Views: 279

Representatives from San Bernardino County's SPARK Youth Employment Program engage with students and community members during an outreach event designed to connect young adults with job training, career exploration, and workforce development opportunities.

Traffic Delays For Mt Vernon Avenue Improvements
Photo Courtesy of: City News Group AI Generated Image

By William Cortez, Community Writer

June 24, 2026 at 12:29pm. Views: 269

Cars and busses stuck in a massive traffic jam.

3 Tips for Surviving Pothole Season
Photo Courtesy of: BPT

By Graham Holt, Community Writer

June 24, 2026 at 12:29pm. Views: 190

Road damage can take a toll on tires and suspension, especially after heavy rain and winter wear.

Dignity Health - St. Bernardine Medical Center and Community Hospital of San Bernardino Names New Hospital President
Photo Courtesy of: Dignity Health

By Wiliam Cortez, Community Writer

June 22, 2026 at 03:14pm. Views: 687

Anthony Coleman, DHA, has been named the new Hospital President for Dignity Health - St. Bernardine Medical Center and Community Hospital of San Bernardino, effective Monday, June 29th.

New Robot Dog Joins County Fire Department to Assist in Rescue Operations
Photo Courtesy of: City News Group AI Generated Image

By William Cortez, Community Writer

June 17, 2026 at 12:44pm. Views: 793

A new robotic dog introduced by the San Bernardino County Fire Department is designed to assist firefighters and rescue personnel by entering hazardous areas and providing real-time information during emergencies.

--> -->