LIFE/Houston clients Tanya (l) and Brittany Roth

“People usually don’t think of babies as being hungry,” explains Lisa Emiliani, director of development for Local Infant Formula for Emergencies (LIFE/Houston). “When you fill up a bag for a food drive, you usually put in beans, rice and tuna. People don’t think about going down the baby food aisle, but infants must have certain nutrients for healthy development.”

Malnourished babies are much more likely to develop irreversible behavioral, developmental and educational problems. Their brains don’t develop as fast as others so that when they start school, they struggle to learn. “An infant’s essential nutritional needs can be met only through breast milk or formula,” declares Ms. Emiliani. In recognition of this vital need, LIFE/Houston was established in 1988 to provide formula and food to babies from low-income families and to offer guidance to parents. Since its inception, LIFE/Houston has distributed more than 2 million meals to hungry babies.

Using donations and grants, LIFE/Houston purchases formula and food. It also receives food from area hospitals, food pantries and food drives. “Last year five Fort Bend ISD elementary schools had a per-classroom goal of collecting 100 baby items to celebrate the 100th day of school,” explains Ms. Emiliani. “I spoke in their assemblies and asked the kids how many had younger brothers and sisters. After they raised their hands I asked, ‘What do the babies do when they’re hungry? Well, they cry.’ They understood that what they were giving was going to help quiet a baby’s cry of hunger. Some of those schools delivered three vans filled with food—all from children!”

In addition to feeding babies and inspiring children, LIFE/Houston also offers information to parents about nutrition, parenting and child development. Ms. Emiliani says, “We ask all of our clients not just what and how much their baby is eating, but why are they in this situation? Formula and food are only a couple of needs our clients have. We are able to refer them to other community agencies for assistance with rent, utilities, food or job opportunities. LIFE/Houston’s counselors have access to a detailed reference system.”

One of LIFE/Houston’s biggest challenges is informing the public and parents about the importance of infant nutrition. Ms. Emiliani says, “We have posters and written material, both in English and Spanish, that explain how much and what a baby should be eating at any given age. We give parents tips such as start with vegetables because if they start with fruit that’s sweet, the baby won’t want to eat vegetables. Most mothers who see us don’t have books at home that tell them what to do.”

LIFE/Houston also encourages mothers to breast-feed their babies. Ms. Emiliani remarks, “I say as a mother of four that breast-feeding is not as easy as people think it is. You don’t just put the baby on and that’s it! There’s a proper way to hold the baby, and women who have no guidance and encouragement may give up. Studies have shown that breast-feeding lowers the rate of infections, decreases the number of allergies a child will have and improves a child’s development. A mother essentially is giving her baby, in the initial week of nursing, her immune system. The mother passes to the child what it needs to fight off infections.”

She continues, “Chances are nobody has explained the benefits of breast-feeding to the parents we see. They’re in and out of the hospital in 24 hours and have no chance to see a lactation consultant. And certainly nobody has told teenage moms that their stomachs get flatter faster if they breast-feed! Most importantly, we’re here to make sure parents have the proper nutrition for their children and that they understand its importance. In the long run that means healthier children, happier adults and a better community for everyone.”

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