August is National Breastfeeing Month, and local residents can donate to the milk drive on Aug. 2 as part of Delta Health Care’s annual breastfeeding celebration.
The event will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Delta Health Care, 4662 Precissi Lane, Suite 500.
Delta’s celebration will be outdoors with family-friendly activities. In addition to the breast milk drive, attendees will have access to a photo booth, raffle prizes, resources for women and children and more.
The need for breast milk is high following California’s Assembly Bill 3059, according to a press release from Mothers’ Milk Bank California (MMBCA). The bill expanded access to donor human milk and required insurance companies to cover it when deemed necessary. Following the bill, MMBCA has seen a 30% increase in demand.
“Donor milk is a vital part of the breastfeeding support ecosystem,” said Jennifer Benito-Kowalski, chief executive officer of MMBCA. “When we make it easier for families to donate, we make it possible for more babies to thrive.”
The theme of 2025’s National Breastfeeding Month is “Forward Together.” It celebrates the unity of organizations and advocates working together to improve milk access.
Delta Health Care is also holding a virtual drive throughout the month for those who can’t make it to the event this weekend. Participants register, get screened and start donating.
Breast milk donations can save the lives of medically fragile infants. There are a variety of reasons why a baby would need milk. At MMBCA, most recipients are in neonatal intensive care units. These units provide intense care for newborn babies who may be premature or critically ill.
“As a first-time mom, I have been very fortunate to be able to breastfeed. The thought of helping neonatal intensive care unit babies who may not have had access to the nutrients in breast milk quickly made me happy to donate,” said new mother, T. Duong, in MMBCA’s announcement.
Other reasons a baby may need donated milk include a failing immune system, insufficient lactation of the mother, adopted, fostered or surrogate babies and illness or health risk from the biological mother that prevents or requires interruption in breastfeeding.
For more information, visit MMBCA’s website.
