Breast Milk Drive next week in San Marcos
A Breast Milk Drive and Health Fair set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 6 will be hosted by TrueCare, a community health center serving North County, at its San Marcos location, 150 Valpreda Road. The annual drive, which is held during National Breastfeeding Month, is run in partnership with the University of California Health Milk Bank.
Attendees can pick up bags of free fresh produce, diapers, goodie bags for mothers and babies, educational material on childbirth and breastfeeding, along with resources for breastfeeding and overall health care, while supplies last.
COVID-19 vaccines and boosters for 6 months and older will be offered inside the health center on a walk-in basis.
TrueCare will provide information about its Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, along with resources about its Pediatrics, Women's Health, Chiropractic, Behavioral Health and Dental departments. There will be lactation consultations, chair stretches for breastfeeding moms and dental screening, along with other health services.
TrueCare's community partners participating in the health fair include the San Diego Blood Bank, Feeding San Diego and Palomar Medical Center.
The Breast Milk Drive seeks donors, especially because of the recent baby formula shortage.
“Moms participating in TrueCare's breast milk drive will significantly help to increase milk reserves for highrisk infants,” says Dr. Chanelle Calhoun, a TrueCare pediatrician.
To donate breast milk, a 100-ounce minimum donation is required along with preregistration at the University of California Health Milk Bank portal at uchealth.servicenow.com/csp. Mothers can get their blood screened, which is required before donating breast milk, at the bloodmobile onsite. For questions, email ucmilkbank@health.ucsd.edu or call (858) 249-MILK (6455).
A San Diego Blood Bank mobile unit will be there from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, or schedule an appointment at mysdbb.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/74294.