WWYD - church food drive for infants - Page 3

[starry_mama]

Originally Posted by Demeter9

Donate a breast pump!

Thats what I was going to suggest too!

[MisaGoat]

I think what you choose to do depends on how involved you want to be.

I would have a hard time purchasing formula from some of the more aggressive formula marketers (Enfamil, Similac, Nestle) but would feel slightly better about buying another one.

I agree that there is a problem with formula and baby foods over breastfeeding and that WIC and food stamps have there own set of problems and don't cover everyone in need. However those issues are the root of the problem. The food bank and your church are trying to provide people who are in need with food. They are addressing the immediate needs of these people. The best foods for a food bank are prepared baby foods that are easily distributed and have a long shelf life.

If you have time, I would look into the food bank and see what support and information they have for the people who come to them. Maybe you could volunteer there or give the food bank your number for mothers to call as someone with experience breastfeeding and knowledge of infant nutrition. If the food bank sees the same people who aren't able to survive on their income, maybe you would be able to help them budget or figure out how to make their own baby food.

I really think it is easy to criticize but much harder to step in and change things. This looks like a prime opportunity to provide people in need with any help you can give.

[icxcnika]

I think MisaGoat has made a lot of good points.

[airmide_m]

I'm not sure what I'd do. I'd be highly tempted to do something snarky but I'm sure I'd stop myself.

I have the same very mixed feelings about how important breast feeding education, role modeling and lactavism are. Not wanting to enable or support people people who DO have the choice, to formula feed. And not wanting to give money to companies we feel are promoting something negative (at least for those who have the choice). But at the same time understanding and being compassionate that people may have a lack of education while they're still *able* to BF, or circumstances or physical issues preventing BFing, and wanting to provide for their babies.


A lot of previous posters have had wonderful ideas. I haven't done that much research but I've been hearing about Weston Price having recipes for home-making infant formula. You could consider giving something like that (if you think that type of formula is a good idea) I also like the idea of donating breastmilk and real food that could be made into baby food, or healthy organic jarred baby food.

One possible reason for the items they're asking for, I don't think anyone else has mentioned....I know a lot of food drives are for "canned foods" and non-perishables. Could that be part of the reason? Also I wonder if there are any regulations or liability issues preventing them giving out home-cooked food or pumped breastmilk.

I like the idea of volunteering for a pregnancy resource center/crisis pregnancy center/Birthright. Having volunteered at Birthright myself though, I can tell you (at least at my location, they may differ slightly) the opportunities for actually talking to the mothers about parenting or much of anything are unfortunately pretty slim. Maybe the PRC's and CPC's are different. I know they sure don't have the same requirements against talking about religion or proselytizing that Birthright does! Maybe they have less strict regulations on giving parenting advise as well. (personal feelings - I wish SO MUCH there was something more all-encompassing for women's health, accurate contraception, adoption information, pregnancy, birth and parenting support!)


I think it would be a great idea to contact the food pantry or any other places like that locally and offer info or coordination of donating breast milk and good baby foods. If you *really* wanted to get involved you could contact churches, PARC's/CPC's/Birthrights and probably a lot of other organizations and offer to give presentations, or connect pumping mamas and people with the ability to cook healthy food with mamas who need milk or don't have the facilities to cook.

[Momily]

If I was familiar with the food bank and knew that they took food for all ages (e.g. they weren't a baby specific program) I'd probably just give something the whole family could eat, ideally something that's also young toddler friendly -- canned fruit in 100% juice, pasta, dry cereal (not baby cereal, but cheerios or something), apple sauce etc . . .

I don't know that I'd say anything, although if someone asked I might say that I thought the babies might have older siblings who would need something too. Or, I might say, since I didn't know whether the babies were breastfed or not I wanted something that could feed both a nursing mother and a young child.

[bandgeek]

If I had the money (which I don't ) I would donate a couple of brand-new hand-pumps, breastmilk storage bags, a couple of breastfeeding books, and maybe a couple of books on making your own baby food (the books could obviously be second-hand so it wouldn't break the bank). Because mostly people are going to be donating formula and gerber jars. At least you would get SOME variety in there so the women who are breastfeeding or plan to, will have options. And maybe people will realize you don't HAVE to buy the expensive little jars of food.

[airmide_m]

And you could also still donate cloth diapers even though not everyone would be able to use them. I'm sure if someone DID want and need them, they would be thrilled to find them there! Oh, come to think of it, if they're taking non-food items, you could also donate a sling or other AP type items.

[thebarkingbird]

what about taping something onto the containers? MANY women don't bf or don't do it for long with a first child because they know they'll have to go back to work with TINY babies and are lead to believe that it doesn't matter or that it will be too hard. i lived in a shelter w/ my son for about a year and i could not believe how many low income women think that bf is just not a possibility for them and so they get sucked into this formula trap that they can't afford.

a good approach would be to provide something for the drive and tape info to it then ask the church what shelters in the area house women with children. sadly, there will likely be at least a couple pregnant women there (it's the #1 time for women to find themselves homeless, kicked out, or lives otherwise in turmoil) and see if you can go down to talk to them about how to make breastfeeding work when working. bring a chart showing how much formula costs vs how much you really have to put into bf (pads, pumps, a little extra food plus time spent pumping and freezing).

provide some education but have a little empathy. imagine if all you milk dried up because you were young and a convenient target for social workers, disapproving nurses, and all sorts of people who want you to do the "normal" thing and get your butt back to work because really you have no business being such a drag on the state. imagine if that pressure and no outside support stuck you with a baby who then had allergies and tummy trouble and a 40 or 50 dollar per week food bill JUST FOR THE BABY! and if, in your circle of friends being able to afford formula was a status symbol. these are all things i have lived or that friends and roommates of mine have lived. my advice, do what you can to ease a financial burden and offer some much needed education and encouragement.

[airmide_m]

Thebarkingbird that's a great idea!! It reminded me that around here, and probably other places too, there are also a couple of homes for pregnant mothers (and probably newborns too I think).

[DBZ]

When my church did a food drive for the babies, they asked for things like formula, diapers, baby food, etc. I emailed the pastor and asked her to include nipple cream and breast pads to include the nursing moms. She was thrilled to do so. There is also breastfeeding info at the food pantry.

[homefrontgirl]

I've been reading this whole thread and wanted to add a few points, FWIW.

I would donate the formula.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I was watching the news when a man held a up a crying baby and said how she had nothing to eat and no formula. I had a newborn at the time and I just started to cry it hit me so hard. A hungry baby. I bet there was a mother praying she could breastfeed at that moment. I think that just like donating blood, the time to do it is before an emergency not after. You never know when something can happen.

Another thought. I'm not really familiar with the qualifications for WIC, but even if they give a mom all the formula she needs, there still is the possibility of running out. For example, spilling or someone inexperienced mixing up the wrong proportions. (Anecdotal evidence: My 4-year-old niece mixed up a bottle for her sister to be "helpful" and used 4 times the about of formula.) Plus, what about single dads needing to feed infants?

Just my 2 cents, but everyone should decide on their own.

[thebarkingbird]

wic doesn't give all the formula you need and they also won't give specialty things like soy for a baby who needs it. a formula company or two gets a contract with a state and that's the only one or two they'll approve w/o doctors notes.

maybe little notes that say "never want to worry about finding formula again? contact the LLL during your next pregnancy for education and support. breastfeeding works for working moms!" then a short blurb about how it's better for baby and less expensive and you never have to worry about bottles or running out. (now if i could get off my butt to implement some of my ideas...)

BF is often seen as something middle class women do. something low income women can't afford to do. dispelling that myth might make a big difference. i'm from louisiana and there were thousands of people in my city after katrina. i wondered about all those kids who needed formula and had no clean water to mix it with.

[CaraNicole]

Originally Posted by homefrontgirl

I've been reading this whole thread and wanted to add a few points, FWIW.

I would donate the formula.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I was watching the news when a man held a up a crying baby and said how she had nothing to eat and no formula. I had a newborn at the time and I just started to cry it hit me so hard. A hungry baby. I bet there was a mother praying she could breastfeed at that moment. I think that just like donating blood, the time to do it is before an emergency not after. You never know when something can happen.

Another thought. I'm not really familiar with the qualifications for WIC, but even if they give a mom all the formula she needs, there still is the possibility of running out. For example, spilling or someone inexperienced mixing up the wrong proportions. (Anecdotal evidence: My 4-year-old niece mixed up a bottle for her sister to be "helpful" and used 4 times the about of formula.) Plus, what about single dads needing to feed infants?

Just my 2 cents, but everyone should decide on their own.

You said that way better than I ever could. Katrina hit everybody hard down here, I saw things I never wanted to see and babies crying b/c parents had to wait 2 days for their wic to kick in and they had no formula or money to feed them. I would rather buy formula knowing a child is going to get fed. I don't care about why the child if FF, as long as no child is hungry I'm happy yk? To the OP do what you are comfortable with, giving formula or not.

[octobermom]

Plus, what about single dads needing to feed infants?

Yes I know this is a RARE story but it does happen. My ousin had a daughter and not too long after she was born the mother disapeared taking all they'd saved up with her she them went in a manuplated the system convincing DES that she still had her daughter so SHE recieved FS and welfare benifits cutting my cousin and his DD off. Honestly I don't know if she ever BF probably not but eventually it came down to father working two full time jobs to make ends meet and his parents helping watch the baby. He relied heavily on formula church donations to make ends meet. . To just provide basic food for his DD.
I'd also give formula telling a mom of say a 4 month old they should have BF and your refuse to provide formula but instead should what? However there are lots of non formula things that can be given jarred foods cereals veggies fruits ect. However these wont "really" help the already FF child between 0-6 months that should really be on only BM or formula.

[Janice in Canada]

I didn't read the whole thread. I have commented on this type of food drive many times before.

I think it must be noted, that perhaps why Food Banks frequently request "formula" specifically, is its very high purchase price, relative to other food items.

So by asking for formula, perhaps they will recieve a larger donation (relatively) than if they ask for cans of beans, for example.

*I* would never feel comfortable buying cans of formula to donate. I think every person has the right to donate in the way they feel comfortable - there are many items and places to donate and help out.

However, perhaps one should consider ensuring that the overall *value* of their donation is comparable to the cost of a formula donation, if they are choosing not to give formula themselves. But of course, the real deciding factor in how much you donate, is your own family situation and sense of generosity to others.



What is more inspiring to motivate generosity, than the thought of a hungry child? So requests for formula are used to motivate people to donate.


I do take offense to Food Banks or Drive specifically asking for formula. It "normalizes" formula.

Perhaps my POV is different, because I am in Canada. We have no WIC, but have a greater social safety net. Those on welfare, do not recieve more money if they formula feed. FTMP, one should be able to live on their social assistance, and it is their choice if they spend that money on formula. We do have addition social programs that support low income women to breastfeed, and even give additional food.

Janice

[Jillson66]

Originally Posted by firstkid4me

I would feel guilty because I would have no way of knowing if the formula was going to someone who really tried breastfeeding, or someone who is completely uneducated about the benefits (or doesn't care) of breastfeeding and never tried.

But if I go down this road, I would never give money to charity because it might enable someone I believe is making a choice that is unwise/unhealthy and/or negative in another way.

I think whether a person should donate formula to a food drive is completely separate from what that person can do to help more women breastfeed. Despite being a lactivist, I do believe that many children in poverty have far greater problems than not being breastfed, and I'm not going to refuse to help a woman who has to go back to working 12 hour shifts 3 weeks after giving birth feed her baby formula.

[Da WIC Lady]

Originally Posted by thebarkingbird

wic doesn't give all the formula you need and they also won't give specialty things like soy for a baby who needs it. a formula company or two gets a contract with a state and that's the only one or two they'll approve w/o doctors notes.

<snip>

BF is often seen as something middle class women do. something low income women can't afford to do. dispelling that myth might make a big difference. i'm from louisiana and there were thousands of people in my city after katrina. i wondered about all those kids who needed formula and had no clean water to mix it with.

You're partly right. WIC won't provide all the formula you need. You can get soy without a note unless it's a specialty soy. Most of the docs around here already have the form for special formulas and will fax it in. The only thing we hesitate to give is ready to feed because of the astronomical expense. You have to have a mental incapacity, no running water or high fluoride to qualify in my district.

As far as clean water goes after Katrina, it wasn't there for anyone, let alone babies. That's why we have filters and a means to boil water in our emergency kit. We've been scraping bye on my part time job for 6 months, so being poor is no excuse for being unprepared. I married a southeast LA boy so I know how stubborn ya'all can be as a people when it comes to storms.: But the whole humanitarian crisis in NO could've been avoided
if people had put together at least a 72 hour kit and thought ahead. As it was my M-I-L didn't leave until it was already raining, but she had supplies, as did my F-I-L and his parents who stayed. They eventually evacuated a week after the storm surge, but were back a week after that to help clean up because they were prepared.

I guess breastfeeding is just one of those things that I see as being a responsible parent and not needing to depend on someone else to feed my child and be responsible for their safety. I know not all moms have the option to exclusively bf, but having some supply is better than none when all other options are gone.

Boy that brought out my militant side...

Anna

[Googy]

I have been lurking on this thread for a bit, and was so upset about what I read last night that I couldn't sleep, so I finally decided to post.

I am fortunate enough to have never needed a soup kitchen or food pantry myself, but DH and I were youth ministers for years and so have spent lots of time volunteering with our students in such places. From my experience, the women who visit the kitchens and pantries are either: 1. the victims of horrible luck and circumstance, 2. very brave women who have escaped violent home situations who had been sahms and no accessible family and had no immediate means of supporting themselves and their children, or 3. physically or mentally ill. These women were doing anything and everything they could think of to try to keep their children safe and fed and sheltered. They did NOT have time (or cooking equipment and cold storage) necessary to make their own baby food, and perhaps did not even have the time or at least the education to choose to breastfeed. These are the luxuries of unbelievable fortunate middle-class women like me and perhaps many of you. I consider myself a die-hard lactivist, but I think it is proposterous to judge these women for not breastfeeding their babies. They are dealing with challenges that the rest of us have probably never even dreamed of.

I completely understand not wanting to buy formula--I don't want to give those companies my money either. I boycott Nestle and all of the rest of it. However, I think I would feel far more guilty about letting these poor women's babies starve than I would about sending a few dollars the formula companies' way. Providing jarred food and cereal is great, though it would only help older infants. Youger ones would still have nothing to eat. Yes, the women can get some formula from WIC, but a) as was previously stated its not enough and b) many of the women I worked with had never even heard of WIC.

Its one thing to feel judgemental and preachy toward educated women with money and time who just refuse to breastfeed and/or make their own babyfood just because its too "inconvenient" for them (believe me, I feel this way). But I think getting judgemental and preachy toward women in these circumstances is inexcusably naive and obtuse. If I were the original poster, I would donate anything these women may need with pride that I was able to do so.