Snow may still be covering the ground in some parts, but we're certainly inching closer to spring.
We are excited to share these upcoming FREE programs with you. Don't forget to RSVP to save your spot, and check our full schedule for a glimpse of March programs!
And, I'd love it if you would join me in helping our featured nonprofit, Madison Area Donor Milk Alliance, fill their freezers by donating milk and/or sharing their story.
Also, in case you missed it, you can still fill out our Spring Survey to help us determine the best days/locations to hold our future programs. Thanks!
Winter Wonderland in Cross Plains: Feb. 20 (9:30-10:30 a.m. Tuesday)
This free event at The Creekside Scoop will feature an indoor storytime and wintry craft at 9:30 a.m. led by library staff, followed by a walk along the paved Ice Age Trail loop to read the StoryWalk® "Cozy" by Jan Brett and explore Zander Park! Recharge with drinks/snacks at Crossroads Coffeehouse. (RSVP recommended).
Play Group with 4-C in Verona: Feb. 29 (9:30-11 a.m. Thursday)
Make new connections and enjoy coffee while your kids (ages 0-5) play and have a snack at this free Leap Day play group at Verona Public Library’s meeting room in collaboration with Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C). Stick around to learn about local resources from Macaroni KID Madison, and explore the Prairie Tales outdoor story walk. (Registration required).
When should we hold our next events?
Between snow storms and illnesses, we unfortunately had to cancel our recent Pop-Up Play Cafe events in Verona and Cross Plains featuring special guests Mary Frost of Frost Organizing and Aaron Seligman, publisher of MacaroniKID Madison. What days and places work best for YOU to reschedule? It only takes a minute to complete the 3-question survey! Thanks!
Nonprofit Spotlight
- About the Madison Area Donor Milk Alliance (MADMA)
- The Madison Area Donor Milk Alliance (MADMA) is a human milk sharing organization serving Dane County, Wisconsin. Families may be in need of donor milk due to a number of reasons including low or no supply, illness, adoption, as well as others. Shared breastmilk can optimize infant health and nutrition, while profoundly strengthening social bonds and community resilience, but many families do not know another breastfeeding person or do not feel comfortable asking for such intimate help. MADMA helps facilitate lab testing, safety education and health screening for milk donors and provides milk for free to families that need it. They also work with parents experiencing loss, connecting them with bereavement resources and support for lactation after loss.
- Learn about donor milk
- Donor milk is distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis with priority given to the youngest or sickest children living in Dane County, Wisconsin. In general, they reserve donor milk for babies 6 months and younger. In the last 8 years, the number of milk requests have doubled but the number of milk donors has stayed the same. This means they often have to triage requests, reserving milk for those that needed it the most.
- Two ways you can help MADMA
- Donate milk: MADMA accepts milk from donors with infants up to 24 months of age. Fresh refrigerated milk and frozen milk are both accepted. There is no minimum amount required to donate. Visit their website to learn more about donating: https://www.madmilkalliance.org/donate-milk
- Spread the Word: MADMA's milk supply relies upon constantly reaching new potential donors. They need help spreading the word! Share their posts on social media (@madmilkalliance), share their poster or brochure, or talk about your own experiences milk sharing or talking about your own experience with milks sharing helps to normalize the fact that families are helping each other every day.
Susan's Story as a Milk Recipient
Thank you to my friend Susan for sharing her story about how MADMA helped her feed her daughter Juni. Susan gives back by serving on the nonprofit's board, and she compiled the information you just read above. Here is more of her story. You can read more stories here, and we'll be sharing more stories on our social media soon, too.
"I was unable to make milk for our baby due to Insufficient Glandular Tissue. MADMA was able to provide us with milk at a time when everything seemed impossible and overwhelming. It gave us time to find a long-term breastmilk donor which we have been so thankful for. Not being able to make milk was so devastating for me. I had always assumed I would breastfeed and stick with it no matter how hard it was. The fact that my body would not be able to make milk had not even occurred to me. I was spending hours a day pumping for less than an ounce of milk. I knew, for my mental health, I needed to stop so I wouldn't miss precious time with our baby but it was so hard to do that. Having donor milk helped me be okay with stopping. It was a life saver for me emotionally and gave our baby crucial nutrition and antibodies. I will forever be grateful to MADMA for the help they provided our family." - Susan, Milk Recipient
Stephanie's Story as a Milk Donor
There are many reasons why people choose to donate milk, and here's Stephanie's story. You can read more stories here, and we'll be sharing more stories on our social media soon, too.
"I decided to become a milk donor because my husband and I received the most generous gift of all: embryos through WI Fertility Institute's anonymous embryo donation program. Without this amazing gift, we would not have our daughter. Since we cannot thank the donors, we are trying to find other ways to give back to our community. I am fortunate to produce more breast milk than our daughter needs, so donating it through MADMA seemed like a great way to help other families. After a 7 year journey to parenthood, we learned first-hand how little control we have over things that seem like they should be easy. It is our hope that this donated milk will make things a little easier for other families, and most importantly help their baby grow." - Stephanie, Milk Donor
Upcoming Community Events
Playful Acorns meet-ups are listed in bold! We’re also sharing other local family-friendly events that might be of interest to you, too! Many of these events focus on nature exploration, free play, and process art. Remember to check out more events listed at Macaroni KID, local libraries, gyms, and more, and we’ll plan to add more events in our next email. Please confirm registration details, costs, and age ranges at the links below.
- Tuesday, February 20th: Winter Wonderland Craft & StoryWalk®, Creekside Scoop
- Tuesday, February 20th: Mini Explorer Hike, Jenni & Kyle Preserve
- Thursday, February 22nd: Toddler True Play, Neighborhood House Community Center
- Saturday, February 24th: Bird and Nature Adventures, Aldo Leopold Nature Center
- Monday, February 26th: Toddler Busy Town, Neighborhood House Community Center
- Tuesday, February 27th: CI Therapies Play Group, Forward Athletics
- Thursday, February 29th: Playful Acorns Play Group with 4-C, Verona Public Library
- Saturday, March 2nd: Early Childhood Resource Fair & Wild Rumpus, Warner Park Community Recreation Center
- Saturday, March 2nd: Nature Playgroup, UW Arboretum
- Friday, March 8th: Mini & Me Yoga, Middleton
- March 12th: Babywearing & Hiking with Your Mini Explorer, Lussier Family Heritage Center
- Thursday, March 14th: Lil’ Explorer Pop-Up Play Cafe, Madison
- Tuesday, March 19th: Celebrate Spring Music and Nature Crafts, Waunakee
- Thursday, March 28th: Deadline to register for April/May Yoga Series, Middleton
