We are thrilled to celebrate Love Anderson, Chair of the North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition and a dedicated advocate for families, who was recently featured on NPR’s Due South to discuss the critical work of the Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities initiative and its response to infant feeding needs in Western North Carolina.
Don’t miss this impactful conversation—listen now on NPR’s Due South!
In the segment, Love described the Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities initiative as “the immune system of a community,” providing resilience and protection against the “infections” that emergencies and lack of clean water can bring. This comparison highlights the vital role breastfeeding support and education play during crises, ensuring the health and safety of families, especially infants, when resources are scarce.
The interview shed light on the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which left many Western North Carolina families struggling to access clean water and formula. Love, alongside her team in the North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition’s Support and Advocacy for Feeding Emergencies (SAFE) team, has been working tirelessly to meet the needs of these families. Their efforts include providing breastfeeding education, rapid needs assessments, infant feeding sanitation kits, and coordinating milk-sharing to ensure infants are fed safely.
Love was joined by fellow experts Brandi Harrison and Jayne Carpenter, both International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants, who emphasized the importance of localized, community-based solutions during disasters.
We are incredibly proud to celebrate Love Anderson’s leadership and advocacy, which embody the mission of Breastfeed Durham to create breastfeeding-friendly communities and support families in times of need. Her work exemplifies the power of community-driven initiatives to foster resilience and save lives.
Tune into NPR’s Due South to hear the full interview and learn more about how local organizations like Breastfeed Durham are making a difference. Together, we can continue to champion Love’s work and support families across North Carolina and beyond.