Wwyd

[hollytheteacher]

I recently joined the UU church in my town (well we are not official members yet but want to become members soon). Anyway, there are a lot of little committees and such that raise money/awareness/etc for random causes.

One of the committees collects items for low-income mamas and in the bulletin each week there is a little blurb saying how much they need a certain kind of formula (similac with iron) and how much/what size/which is the best etc. to help low income moms who cannot afford to buy it themselves.

I feel that as a breastfeeding mother who also is interested in helping spread lactivism/support etc., that it is such a disservice for them to be collecting and handing out the free formula. At the same time i do understand that sometimes there are situations where it is needed as well as the fact that if these mothers already made the concious decision to ff that their milk has obviously dried up and there is no going back so to speak.

However, having said all that, it just doesn't sit right with me that there is no mention of donating breastfeeding related stuff (e.g. breast pads, bags for collecting milk in, etc). or even literature on the benefits of breastfeeding.

I am really leaning towards the idea of writing a letter, maybe sort of promoting the benefits of bfing and asking that maybe the committee also asks for those kind of donations. BUT i also don't want to come accross as some new person bashing their whole idea of charity kwim?

Help! wwyd?!

[hollytheteacher]

:bump

[zinemama]

I would write a letter making the following points:

a) it is so wonderful that the committee provides support for low-income mothers.

b) plenty of low-income mamas breastfeed their children and wouldn't it be nice if in addition to the formula, the committee could provide these particular women with items that bf mothers could use (pads, the bags, maybe secondhand boppis, whatever)

c) (and here's the crucial part) volunteer to join the committee and coordinate those donations.

[hollytheteacher]

I wish i could join the committee but i am already over-stretched with commitments currently.

I am thinking about writing the letter but don't know what to say...

or if it is over stepping since i'm new...

[kalamos23]

I'd write a letter - if they are low income, I'm sure they would appreciate the fact that BM is free! I'd probably go at it from the angle that you would like to provide some of this stuff to begin with, etc. though and be proactive in that way. I'm sure there are LI mamas out there that would appreciate it!

[sapphire_chan]

Can they hand out food? Even when there was a canned food drive at the church I didn't hand out any food when I was secretary to the UU church. I was told to give them the information for the food pantry.

[feest]

what about asking for grocery store gift cards fot bfing mothers

[CEVmommy]

I'm an active member of my UU church and we have collections that go to the food pantry. I donated all my free formula samples there. It's possible that they are just collecting things on a list for the food pantry and these are the things that the pantry accepts.

Either way though, I don't think anyone would think you were out of line for asking about if they also accept BF related items or suggesting that they do so. You may find that they already accept these items but they weren't as high of a need as the formula so didn't make the newsletter, or that the food pantry cannot accept such items, or that they hadn't thought of that but would be happy to add that to their program!

In general, I have found UUs to be very positive toward BF and related causes. We have multiple LLL leaders and members who attend our congregation. I announced at joys and concerns a few months ago my joy that I had made my 2 year breastfeeding goal and I had MANY people come up to me telling me how awesome that was, etc etc. I think they will be supportive.

[mommyto3girls]

I also think you will find support if you voice your concerns. our UU congregation also has a LLL leader that is a member and other nursing momma's (and we are a really really small congregation)

My first time attending it was just Maia and Sage and I, Sage was 23 months old and as I was being shown around they showed me the nursery area and then led me into the service area and showed me 2 rocking chairs, the older man showing me around said "Feel free to sit here and nurse that sweet girl during service if you need to" It was aweseom, I had not mentioned that she was still nursing, she had not asked to nurse in front of him, yet here they were assuming that my almost 2 year old would of course still be nursing

[kriket]

I would leave it be. If you don't have time to be on a committee then there isn't anything you can do. Most low income mamas that are accepting church help are probable at their wits end. They work, and even if they tried to pump the daycare told them "no body fluids". Its sad but thats why we are here to make sure that every mama who wants to can pump and work and send her LO to daycare with a bottle of BM!

[mama2mygirl]

I was on WIC and when I went into my mandatory meeting I talked about nursing. Another mama was nursing and she was going to try formula so the baby would eat more. She basically worried she didn't make enough milk. I'm shy and I almost did say anything but then I did. I explained that if she used formula she'd actually produce less milk. The way to get more milk is to nurse more. The WIC leader was completely grateful and asked if I would talk about nursing more so I did.
I think sometimes people just need to speak out. I don't know if that was helpful but I guess I'm saying, just put your opinion out there. I think it will help.

[weliveintheforest]

Maybe you could just talk to a member of the committee and ask if that has ever been brought up before? If not, I'm sure they would be happy to take your suggestion seriously.