Catholic Charities WIC Program to Host World Breastfeeding Week Walk Aug. 1 in Delaware Park | Events

Moms, dads, families, grandmas and grandpas – anyone in support of a healthy start for babies or who would like to learn more about breastfeeding – are urged to join in the free WIC World Breastfeeding Week Walk on Aug. 1 from 12-2 p.m. in Delaware Park at the Ring Road entrance.

Catholic Charities’ Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program is hosting the event to raise awareness of the benefits and significance of breastfeeding. The walk, in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week taking place Aug. 1-7 in more than 170 countries, is also designed to create community support for friends, family and others who are, have or may be considering breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding helps to protect infants against many illnesses, including ear infections, stomach viruses, asthma, diabetes and obesity.

“Breastfeeding is one of the most natural and effective ways to provide essential nutrients to infants for development and growth,” said Katie Constantino, Catholic Charities WIC breastfeeding coordinator. “Through this event we hope to increase the number of moms who want to breastfeed and offer the proper resources to help them do so in a fun, family-friendly environment.”

Movin’ and Groovin’ will provide child-friendly music and children’s characters Elmo and Dora the Explorer will be on hand, as well as health information from local community agencies, including P2 Collaborative, Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network and Soccer Shots.     

Currently, Constantino said WIC families in Erie and Niagara counties have a breastfeeding initiation rate of 52 percent, an increase from 43 percent over the past three years.

Catholic Charities is able to host this event for a second time through grant funding from the March of Dimes, an organization dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, infant mortality and premature birth.         

WIC is a federal nutrition program which provides food, participant-centered nutrition education and referrals for eligible pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and infants and children under the age of 5. Catholic Charities WIC program serves approximately 20,000 participants each month in Erie and Niagara counties.

For more information about WIC or any other Catholic Charities service, go to www.ccwny.org or call (716) 218-1400. You can also check Catholic Charities out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ccbuffalo and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ccbuffalo.

Catholic Charities is the most comprehensive direct human service provider serving all eight counties of Western New York, with 70 programs and 61 locations. Founded in 1923, Catholic Charities also provides, without regard to religious affiliation, comprehensive counseling services for children and families, anti-domestic violence programming and emergency services, among other social and mental health services.