Breastfeeding moms will have a quiet, private, air conditioned place to nurse their babies during the annual daylong Sertoma 4th of July Festival, courtesy of The Ember coffee shop at 8 N. Third St. in downtown Grand Forks.
Designated as a "Rock and Rest" site by the Greater Grand Forks Breastfeeding Coalition, the coffee shop will welcome mothers to relax, feed babies and change diapers, said Mandi Burbank, a registered dietician with the Grand Forks Public Health Department.
This is the first time such a venue has been offered during the July 4 event, she said.
"Many moms are choosing to breastfeed, and there are not a lot of places to do that comfortably," she said. "We feel that supporting moms who breastfeed is the right decision."
The coffee shop plans to offer a discount on beverages for breastfeeding moms that day, she said. Its menu includes smoothies and specialty coffee drinks.
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Cabela's of East Grand Forks has donated two camping chairs that rock, she said.
The idea for the breastfeeding site stems from positive feedback the coalition received from moms who used the "Rock and Rest" tent that was set up last year at the Grand Forks County Fair.
Because of that success, this year the coalition was invited to set up the tent at the local Art Fest and Grand Forks County Fair, in addition to the July 4th celebration, Burbank said.
The Sertoma Club, Altru Health System and the Greater Grand Forks Breastfeeding Coalition will make a financial contribution to the coffee shop, she said.
For more information, contact Burbank at the local public health department office, (701) 787-8100.
Knudson covers Health and Family for the Herald and can be reached at (701) 780-1107, (800) 477-6572, ext.1107 or pknudson@gfherald.com .
