New City, NY, – The Rockland County Department of Health invites families to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week by attending the free annual Live, Love, Latch! BYO Basket Picnic on Wednesday, August 5th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Haverstraw Bay Park, 21 Gagan Road, Haverstraw. The event will be held rain or shine under the park pavilion.
This year’s World Breastfeeding Week theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” highlights the importance of building on proven strategies that support breastfeeding families and create healthier communities for generations to come.
This annual celebration brings families together to share experiences, learn about lactation and human milk feeding, and enjoy a fun-filled afternoon of community connection. Guests are encouraged to bring their own picnic lunch while participating in family-friendly activities and educational opportunities.
The event is co-hosted by partners of the Rockland County Lactation Coalition, including the Rockland County Department of Health, La Leche League of Rockland County, The New York Milk Bank, Lower Hudson Valley Perinatal Network, and Montefiore Nyack Hospital.
Families can enjoy a variety of activities, including a 360° photo booth, clowns, gentle movement activities, trivia games, gift giveaways, raffle prizes, healthy light refreshments, and educational resources highlighting the benefits of human milk feeding.
To register, visit rcklnd.us/flowpage-WBWLiveLoveLatch2026. For questions, contact La Leche League of Rockland County at ClarkstownLLL@gmail.com.
“Human milk is uniquely tailored to meet infants’ nutritional and developmental needs,” said Dr. Mary Leahy, Commissioner of Health for the Rockland County Department of Health. “It contains essential antibodies that help strengthen babies’ immune systems, protecting them from illnesses such as ear infections and gastrointestinal infections, while also lowering the risk of chronic conditions later in life, including type 2 diabetes, asthma, and childhood obesity.”
The Rockland County Department of Health offers free services to help worksites, childcare centers, family childcare homes, and pediatric and obstetric practices become lactation-friendly. Services include staff training, assistance with creating lactation rooms, and educational materials, including information about New York State labor and civil rights laws that protect lactating individuals.
For more information or to become a member of the Rockland County Lactation Coalition, call the Health Department’s Lactation Promotion and Support Program at 845-364-3786, email messingl@co.rockland.ny.us, or visit rcklnd.us/lactation.
For information about National Breastfeeding Month, including events and resources, visit usbreastfeeding.org/national-breastfeeding-month.