by Rose Caldwell
Catholic Charities Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program will host 2016 Healthy Baby Festivals from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 28 in Delaware Park in Buffalo and on Wednesday, Aug. 3 in Hyde Park in Niagara Falls. The free events will feature a family fun walk, children’s activities, games, educational resources, prizes and giveaways.
The Buffalo event will be at the Colvin Avenue and Amherst Street entrance of Delaware Park, and the Niagara Falls event will be held near the Hyde Park splash pad, at Hyde Park Boulevard and Pine Avenue.
In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week (Aug. 1-7), Catholic Charities WIC is hosting the event to raise awareness about the significance and benefits that breastfeeding provides. Those who are or may be considering breastfeeding or who have breastfed are encouraged to attend. The Healthy Baby Festival will be supported by more than 25 local community agencies.
The family fun walk begins at 11:15 a.m., followed by educational displays, resources, prizes and giveaways. In addition, Movin’ and Groovin’, characters from Paw Patrol and a soccer area by Soccer Shots will entertain children. Families are encouraged to pack a picnic lunch for after the walk.
All are encouraged to attend, especially expecting mothers, families and caregivers. Anyone interested in learning more about breastfeeding or in support of the importance of a healthy start for babies are welcome.
“Our Catholic Charities WIC Healthy Baby Festivals are great examples of our entire community coming together to learn about the importance of breastfeeding for the long-term health of both the baby and mother,” said Katie Constantino, Catholic Charities WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator.
The event is funded by a generous grant from the March of Dimes and Catholic Charities.
No registration is required. For more information, call (716) 218-1484 ext. 2207.Catholic Charities administers WIC in Erie, Niagara and Chautauqua counties. The program served more than 26,000 women and children up to the age of five in 20 locations in the three counties in 2015.
WIC offers nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding support, prenatal and postpartum support, referrals and supplemental food vouchers. WIC services are available through application to married or single parents, foster parents or other legal guardians of a child under five. All services offered are free of charge.For more information about WIC, go to ccwny.org/wic, or for information on any other Catholic Charities service, go to ccwny.org.
As the most comprehensive human service provider in Western New York, Catholic Charities served nearly 132,000 people in need in 2015. For 93 years, Catholic Charities has been making a difference for people of every faith and ethnicity in Western New York. Catholic Charities empowers individuals, children and families to achieve meaningful, healthy and productive lives. Catholic Charities is an excellent steward of the contributions it receives, attaining the highest rating (four stars) from Charity Navigator and the 2015 Torch Award for Philanthropic Excellence from the Better Business Bureau Foundation of Upstate New York. The agency also receives highest ratings from the Council on Accreditation for quality service.
Learn more about Catholic Charities at ccwny.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ccbuffalo and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ccbuffalo.
