WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Unity Lactation and Collaborative on Memorial Avenue in Williamsport opened last week. The nonprofit lactation support center helps new moms or moms-to-be.
"We're trying to get Williamsport on the map for being a more breastfeeding family-friendly community with employers, day care providers, businesses—where you can just go and feel comfortable that you're not going to be asked to leave," said founder Rebecca Leese.
Unity Lactation and Collaborative provides lactation services, such as small classes, for pregnant women who want to learn more about breastfeeding.
"We have after-discharge support classes that focus on those needs of after they've returned to work or are getting ready to return to work and all the changes that that entails for them in their personal life," Leese said.
Leese runs groups for pregnant teens and new teen mothers to help them find the services they need.
"Unity Collaborative is trying to fill that void where nobody is turned away for their inability to pay and everybody has the same options for health access."
The lactation center plans to open a kitchen to provide meals and classes for women with young children.
"That just really don't know what to do with the food that they might have left over at the end of the month that maybe they've received from local food banks. We do have some staple food that we are able to let anybody that needs it come in and grab a bag for dinner."
At Unity Lactation and Collaborative, women can come in at any time without an appointment. The place is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.