Give 8/28, is a national day of giving held on August 28 dedicated to supporting Black-led grassroots nonprofit organizations, many of which have small annual budgets but are crucial for community empowerment.
Saul's Light, led by Founder and Executive Director Kimberly Novod, is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of the local communities in areas health, education, and advocacy. Just yesterday, Saul's Light and community partners Her Institute, Training Grounds, and DePaul Community Health Centers held "Milk and Cookies," and event celebrating Black Breastfeeding Week. This year's theme is, "Boots on the Ground: Rooted in Breastfeeding Success, Grounded in Community Support."
Louisiana breastfeeding rates are far below rates across the United States, with only 70% of infants ever having breastfed, compared to the national average of 83%. The rates of breastfeeding fall even lower within minority populations, with only 44% of Black infants exclusively receiving breast milk in the hospital, versus 68% of white infants. For New Orleans, a city where over half of the population is Black or African-American, this is incredibly troubling, particularly when considering the racial and ethnic disparities in birth outcomes and infants born at very low birth weight (VLBW).
To those ends, Saul's Light implemented the Milk Mobile, free transport of human milk (breastmilk) to infants in southeast Louisiana NICUs and helps get the best quality breast pumps to moms who need them, wherever they are. In addition, for NICUs contracted with the Mother's Milk Bank of Louisiana, the Milk Truck will provide free transport of donor milk to the NICU for times when mom’s milk isn’t available. For these vulnerable infants, the benefits of breastfeeding are especially significant, and as such, addressing disparities in breastfeeding is critical to addressing the persistent health disparities facing in the city and the state as a whole.
Together, with our community partners, we are the boots on the ground; the best possible team to increase community, family, and hospital support and improve each mother’s ability to provide breast milk to their babies, ensuring the healthiest start possible for every Louisiana baby.