Freeport moms walk to advocate breast-feeding awareness

World Breastfeeding Week, WBW, is celebrated worldwide during the first week of August to raise awareness of breastfeeding benefits, encourage and promote the values breastfeeding has in the wellbeing of babies.

The Freeport Catholic Charities WIC Nutrition program held its fourth annual walk on Aug. 4 to raise awareness in Freeport. The group of approximately 38 people—moms, children and other supporters walked 1.7 miles through Freeport from St. Johns Place to East Merrick Road down to South Ocean Avenue, then looped around up Smith Street towards South Main Street and back to the Freeport Catholic Charities offices on St. Johns Place.

“The event brought us together and as a community,” Sandra Michel, Outreach Coordinator of Catholic Charities WIC Nutrition program said. “We brought more awareness on the benefits of breast-feeding. The moms that participated shared camaraderie during the walk.”

The Baby Wearing World of Long Island, a local group that advocates, meets and teaches the practice of baby wearing, also joined the walkers.

“Breastfeeding is important and the community needs to be aware of the benefits,” added Michel. “We look forward to our fifth walk in 2018.”

August is also National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, which continues the mission of not just why it is important to breastfeed, but on how to make breastfeeding work for mothers and their babies.