GIVE

Donations and How to Support The Breastfeeding Center

Give Dollars

We rely on individual donations, like yours, to meet our basic operating expenses. We know you want to see us continue to offer expert support and care into 2024 and beyond—so please sustain us today with your donation.

Give Milk

Donate your excess breastmilk to our Milk Depot (partnered with the Milk Bank at Austin). In 2020, we collected, stored, and shipped over 130,000 ounces of donor milk - that’s incredible! Our clients are so very generous with their milk, and families with babies in the NICU and families unable to provide their own milk to their babies are so grateful for those donations!

Give Time

Nothing breaks our heart more than hearing “I wish I had known you were here with my first baby.” Help us spread the word about what we do! If you have even just tiny pockets of time, you could make a big impact in getting the word out there. Click below for ideas on how you can help us reach more people just by getting our information out into the world!

Donations

Below are the items that we are currently accepting. Click the title to expand and learn more!

Ice Packs & Insulation

We use ice packs and insulation to help package our donor breast milk orders. (Learn more about our donor breast milk program here).

Many families in the area receive ice packs and insulation from meal kits and grocery deliveries. These items are perfect for packaging our orders. Please feel free to drop off your donation anytime during our open hours. (See our holiday shop hours here).

  • Ice Packs:

    *If your ice packs meet these requirements, we would love to take them!

    1. Check The Size: We are currently accepting ice packs that are the size of standard letter paper (8.5"x11") or smaller. Ice packs any larger can actually make packing orders more difficult.

    2. Is It Clean? Please make sure you wipe down your ice packs of any food debris, dirt, etc.

    3. Are There Holes? You can check for holes when the ice pack is frozen, but the best way to check is to let the pack thaw and to examine for holes by gently squeezing the pack or making a visual check for holes.

    To Donate Insulation:

    1. Simply give the insulation a good wipe for any debris and drop them off with your ice packs.

    For any questions or concerns please TEXT (202) 293-5182.

Breast Pumps (Read Carefully!)

At The Breastfeeding Center, we are currently accepting breast pumps for display on our “pump bar” in our shop. Our “pump bar” allows clients to come in and look at breast pumps, touch them and ask questions with our staff. Consultants and instructors also use the “pump bar” and shop pumps to show clients different options.

With this in mind, we are not accepting pumps for distribution at this time. Meaning, if you would like to donate your breast pump for someone to use (rather than for display/teaching purposes) you can learn more following this link here.

  • The pumps we are looking for include:

    • Amazon brands (Ikare, Paruu, Copol, Goldeep, Hauture, Missaa, Bellababy, Egnell, Luxlady, etc.)
    • BabyBuddha - BabyBuddha Hands-Free Breast Pump
    • Cimilre - any models
    • Elvie - Elvie Catch
    • Evenflow - Evenflow Advanced Single Electric Breast Pump; Evenflow Manual Breast Pump
    • Freemie - any models
    • Lansinoh - Lansinoh Discreet Duo Wearable Pump; Lansinoh Smartpump 3.0; Lansinoh Smartpump 2.0
    • Medela - Medela Pump In Style Hands-Free Breast Pump; Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Breast Pump; Medela Swing Maxi
    • Motif - The Motif Aura; The Motif Twist
    • Opera - any models
    • Phillips Avent - any models
    • Pumpables - SuperGenie
    • Spectra - Synergy Gold Portable Pump
    • Zomee - Zomee Fit Wearable; Zomee Z1 Rechargeable Double Electric

    There are also many pumps that we have been able to check off our list because of your kind generosity. Below is a list of pumps that we have already and DO NOT need. In this instance we recommend donating to another organization (read here).

    We DO NOT NEED:
    • Ameda - Ameda Mya Joy; Ameda Mya Joy PLUS; Ameda Finesse
    • BabyBuddha - BabyBuddha Double/Single Electric Pump
    • Dr. Brown’s - Dr. Brown’s CustomFlow Double Electric Breast Pump
    • Elvie - Elvie Pump; Elvie Stride; Elvie Curve
    • Evenflow - Evenflow Double Electric Pump
    • Lansinoh - Lansinoh Signature Pro
    • Medela - Medela Pump In Style Max Flow; Medela Sonata; Medela Freestyle
    • Motif - The Luna Motif Double Electric Pump; The Motif Duo
    • Pumpables - Pumpables Genie Advanced
    • Spectra - Spectra S1; Spectra S2; Spectra Synergy Gold; Spectra 9 PLUS
    • Willow - Willow 3.0, Willow Go Pump
    • Zomee - Zomee Z2 Double Electric Pump

    If you have a pump to donate that is not on this list, please message us, and if we aren't able to use it, we can refer you to an organization that will! Text (202) 293-5182. 

    Reminder: If you would like to donate a pump to a parent (and not our “pump bar”), check out our blog here.

Donate Your Bottles

Similar to our breast pumps, we use baby bottles for demonstrations in our classes and consultations.

  • Here are some bottles we are looking for:
    • Avima
    • Baby Buddha
    • Chicco
    • Dr. Browns Wide Neck
    • Evenflo Balance+
    • Hygeia
    • Joovy Boob Baby
    • Lifefactory Glass
    • MAM
    • Mixie Babyx
    • Motif
    • Nanobebe
    • Natursutten Glass
    • NUK Smooth Flow
    • Olababy Silicone
    • Parent's Choice
    • Phillips Avent Original (not Naturals)
    • Pigeon
    • Pura Kiki
    • Thinkbaby

    If you have a bottle to donate that is not on this list, please message us and TEXT (202) 293-5182. 

Donate Your Carrier

We are looking for baby carriers for our fit check groups and babywearing classes (learn more here). If you would like to donate your carrier for our demonstrations, check out the list below!

  • We are looking for:

    • Babuebaby
    • Boba Bliss, BobaX, Boba Air
    • Becco Gemini, Becco 8
    • Didysnap, Didyfix
    • Ergo Omni Breeze or Dream, Ergo Aerloom
    • Gooseket Sling
    • Happy Baby Original, Happy Baby Revolution
    • Integra (any)
    • Kinderpack (any)
    • Minimonkey, Minimonkey Minisling
    • Naked Panda Duo
    • Sakura Bloom Scout
    • Sakura Bloom Onbuhimo
    • Tula Free to Grow, Tula Explore, Tula Standard, Tula Lite 
    • Tushbaby Hipseat

    If you have a carrier you would like to donate that is not on this list, please message us and TEXT (202) 293-5182. 

Other Resources

If you are looking to donate something that is not listed above, here are a few further resources:

Donate Your Breast Pump To A Wider Circle

A Wider Circle will accept donations of ONLY closed-system breastpumps. Any donated breastpump must be clean, and the donor must provide a new, factory-sealed set of tubing and parts for the recipient. Pump and parts must be boxed so as to stay together in transport. View their website for further instructions.

If you cannot donate your breast pump, it may be recyclable with the manufacturer.

A Wider Circle accepts infant and toddler clothing, amongst many other things!

Donate Diapers & Formula to DC Diaper Bank

Donate to DC Diaper Bank! They accept new or unused donations of:
• diapers (opened or outside the package is ok!)
• formula (please check the dates)
• baby food & toddler snacks
• other baby items on this list

Donate Your Bras & Menstrual Hygiene Products

You can donate to I Support The Girls - they accept donations of new or used bras—nursing or otherwise—in any size, as long as they are in good condition. They also accept menstrual hygiene products of all kinds, with overnight maxi pads with wings being the greatest need. ISTG works with vetted organizations all over the world to distribute these donations to girls and women experiencing homelessness, so that no one need ever choose between a meal and maxi pads.