Community Breastfeeding Collaborative Launches Monthly Support Meet-Up

New program aims to close rural care gaps and improve health outcomes for local parents and babies

Feeding an infant can feel overwhelming—especially for new parents. In rural communities like Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, access to breastfeeding and lactation support can be limited.

To help close that gap, the Community Breastfeeding Collaborative is launching a new monthly Breastfeeding & Lactation Support Meet-Up beginning Saturday, March 21, 2026. The free gathering will offer education, peer connection, and access to Certified Lactation Counselors in a welcoming, judgment-free space.

The group will meet on the third Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Gabby’s Guppies, located inside the Hancock Community Hub, 417 Quincy St., Hancock. To ensure more families across the region can participate, the group will include free childcare and a virtual attendance option via Zoom.

“Breastfeeding looks different for every family,” organizers say. “Our goal is to create a supportive environment where parents can ask questions, learn from experts, and connect with others who understand the joys and challenges of feeding a baby.”

The monthly event will include:

  • Educational topics and guidance from Certified Lactation Counselors

  • Open discussion and peer support

  • Light refreshments

  • Free licensed childcare during the event

  • A virtual attendance option for families unable to attend in-person

Families who are pregnant, currently breastfeeding, or simply exploring their options are welcome to attend.

Why is Breastfeeding Important?
Breastfeeding offers well-documented health benefits for both infants and parents. Breast milk adapts to meet a baby’s changing nutritional needs, is easily digestible, and supports brain development. It contains antibodies that help protect against infections and can reduce the risk of ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and gastrointestinal issues. For mothers, breastfeeding has been associated with lower risks of certain cancers, Type 2 diabetes, and postpartum depression, while also supporting physical recovery after childbirth.

At the same time, breastfeeding can be physically demanding and emotionally isolating. Questions about supply, latch, pain, pumping, returning to work, or supplementing can leave parents feeling overwhelmed. Families in rural areas also face unique barriers, including geographic isolation, limited access to lactation professionals, and fewer opportunities for peer support.

The Breastfeeding Collaborative hopes the monthly meet-up will serve as both an educational resource and a community-building effort—offering practical guidance while reducing the isolation many parents experience.

About the Community Breastfeeding Collaborative
The Breastfeeding Collaborative is a community-driven partnership formed in 2023 to identify and address gaps in breastfeeding support in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. Through listening sessions and community surveys, the group identified a clear need for consistent, accessible, in-person support for parents navigating infant care.

The program is financially supported by the Keweenaw Community Foundation through its Community Impact Fund, which invests in collaborative community-driven projects that help maintain and enhance the quality of life across the greater Keweenaw area.

Participating organizations:

  • Treehouse Family Resources

  • Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center

  • UP Health System - Portage

  • Western UP Health Department

  • BHK Child Development

  • Copper Country ISD - Early On

  • Copper Shores Community Health Foundation

  • KBIC Health System

  • Keweenaw Community Foundation

Keweenaw Community Foundation