Church food drive - Formula

[MommytoHHH]

Our church does a monthly food drive for the local food pantry every month. Each month it changes - we've recently had things like peanut butter and jelly month, or cereal month, etc. We went to church on Sunday and were handed a paper bag for this month's food drive. It's a drive for baby supplies and the FIRST THING LISTED is baby formula : I find myself really upset by this. The breastfeeding rate is abyssmal here already. Shouldn't we be collecting money to help the food pantry have information on BFing or something like that? I'm really tempted to talk to one of the priests about it. Does anyone have advice on how I can go about this?

[Momtwice]

You say "priests." if you are Catholic the previous Pope had a very very probreastfeeding statement. It's at Kellymom.com and I'll help you find it if you need it.

[Janice in Canada]

Check out a couple of recent threads - the "my NEW idea for what to do with formula samples" and the "Wisconsin NBA fans encouraged to donate formula" thread.

You'll get good ideas and information there.

Janice

[MommytoHHH]

Thanks, Janice. I am Episcopalian

[amandaleigh37]

I don't have any advice for you but I definitely think it would be a good idea to talk to whoever is in charge... Good luck

[Starr]

I for one don't see a huge problem about it. Its in need and they are asking for it. I do think its a great idea to have info on BF as well. I see it as though I may not agree with canned and junk food if thats what the food banks want and need who am I to tell them they don't. Unless it specifically goes against something in your church. You may not know what their reasons are for it or who it goes to, it could be someone who really needs it and can't BF or maybe it is someone who can BF but doesn't, but you never really know.

[PortraitPixie]

What about the mammas who couldn't or made a choice long ago and have formula-fed babies already. Are those babies suppossed to go without?

Not a flame, just a question.

[napua]

Originally Posted by Starr

I for one don't see a huge problem about it. Its in need and they are asking for it. I do think its a great idea to have info on BF as well. I see it as though I may not agree with canned and junk food if thats what the food banks want and need who am I to tell them they don't. Unless it specifically goes against something in your church. You may not know what their reasons are for it or who it goes to, it could be someone who really needs it and can't BF or maybe it is someone who can BF but doesn't, but you never really know.

This is how I feel. Even if we don't like it, there are people that FF. I am all about educating people on how important and wonderful BF is but we have to face the fact that the babies out there that are already FF still need that FF.

[jarynsmom06]

I think that is actually a good idea. Most of the time a food drive is for the less fortunate and there may be people out there that formula feed for whatever reason that need help. Regardless of whethere they chose to or not, I don't think think children should ever go hungry. Donating money probably wouldn't work because most people don't like donating money because they don't really know where their money is going to and you still couldn't force anyone to breastfeed. However I think they should include some GOOD breastfeeding pamphlets with some good information on them. It may help a few people.

[BCFD]

Originally Posted by Starr

I for one don't see a huge problem about it. Its in need and they are asking for it. I do think its a great idea to have info on BF as well. I see it as though I may not agree with canned and junk food if thats what the food banks want and need who am I to tell them they don't. Unless it specifically goes against something in your church. You may not know what their reasons are for it or who it goes to, it could be someone who really needs it and can't BF or maybe it is someone who can BF but doesn't, but you never really know.

I also agree with this. I think it's a great idea for those who truly need it (same as the NBA drive).

[Momtwice]

Cross Post from Wisconsin NBA thread:



I'm trying to think of breastfeeding-friendly alternatives for those people who are not comfortable donating formula.

You could donate money to your local Baby Friendly Hospital. The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative is a great program in my opinion.
http://www.babyfriendlyusa.org/

Or maybe you could donate money (or human milk!) to a Milk Bank, if there is a non-profit one near you.
http://www.hmbana.org/index.php?mode=locations

Or your local La Leche League. They are non-profit, depend on volunteers, and I understand they are struggling financially in recent years.
http://www.lalecheleague.org

[MommytoHHH]

Originally Posted by Starr

I for one don't see a huge problem about it. Its in need and they are asking for it. I do think its a great idea to have info on BF as well. I see it as though I may not agree with canned and junk food if thats what the food banks want and need who am I to tell them they don't. Unless it specifically goes against something in your church. You may not know what their reasons are for it or who it goes to, it could be someone who really needs it and can't BF or maybe it is someone who can BF but doesn't, but you never really know.

Actually, it's not something the food bank asked for, as far as I understand what was said on Sunday. They don't typically provide anything baby related at the Food Bank. That's part of what makes me upset about it.

[heldt123]

Originally Posted by MommytoHHH

Actually, it's not something the food bank asked for, as far as I understand what was said on Sunday. They don't typically provide anything baby related at the Food Bank. That's part of what makes me upset about it.

See, I thought that food banks didn't deal with formula. I thought that was WIC? :

[MommytoHHH]

Apparently they're accepting it for this - all I know is what I was told at church and what was on the flyer attached to the paper bag.

[indiemamma]

Another Idea...

If I was in your situation, this is what I would do:

Our local Target has a great breastfeeding section with lots of Lansinoh products and stuff. I would fill up my bag with pro-BFing stuff like that, plus as many pamflets as I could get my hands on. I know at the last DONA (a Doula organization) conference I went to they were giving TONS of free samples from the Lansinoh booth, so maybe if you contact them you can get some trial/sample sized stuff too? Then I would donate THAT so the food bank can also support the moms that have chosen not to FF their babies.

I seem to be a closet lactivist... I'm not big on confrentation, but like to do the quiet stuff!

[tessie]

Originally Posted by PortraitPixie

What about the mammas who couldn't or made a choice long ago and have formula-fed babies already. Are those babies suppossed to go without?

Not a flame, just a question.

Actually, I do agree with this. Maybe there are people out there caring for the children of relatives, or who had serious health problems after giving birth and so couldn't try breastfeeding? Or maybe even the odd single Dad? Or adoptive parent?

Breast is best, but those who can't breastfeed need support too.

Maybe donate both formula and some pro breastfeeding stuff?