Grand Opening Ribbon-cutting hosted for Jamaica on Aug. 4; Community Open House for Woodside followed Aug. 5
August 5, 2026– Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens and Northwell LIJ Forest Hills are celebrating the opening of two Baby Café locations in Queens during World Breastfeeding Week, marking the occasion with new resources for local families. The Baby Cafés, located and operated by the Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services WIC (Women, Infant and Children’s Nutrition) Programs in Jamaica and Woodside, offer free breastfeeding support and resources to parents, expectant parents, and caregivers.
The collaboration between Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services WIC Program and Northwell LIJ Forest Hills comes from a shared goal of becoming a licensed Baby Café provider to offer a free, drop-in community space offering professional breastfeeding support, evidence-based lactation guidance, and peer connections for new and expecting parents.
On Tuesday, Aug. 4, the Baby Café located at 161-10 Jamaica Avenue, Suite 304, in Jamaica, Queens, hosted a ribbon-cutting to celebrate its grand opening.
The following day, Wednesday, Aug. 5, the Baby Café located at 42-71 65th Place in Woodside, Queens, celebrated its opening with a community open house, welcoming families, partners, and neighbors to the new space.
“We are honored to be selected as a licensed Baby Café agency and thrilled to partner with Northwell Long Island Jewish Forest Hills to provide these services,” said Mary Hurson, SVP of Family Services at Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens. “Breastfeeding support can make all the difference for a new parent, and we’re proud to bring these resources directly to the Jamaica and Woodside communities, where families need them most.”
“Supporting families doesn’t end when they leave our hospital. Through our partnership with Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, we’re expanding access to trusted breastfeeding support, education, and community resources where families live,” said Lorraine Chambers Lewis, President, Northwell Health Long Island Jewish Forest Hills. “By working together, we’re helping parents feel confident and supported throughout their parenting journey while improving access to maternal health resources across Queens.”
Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services WIC Program funders NYS Department of Health supports the two new Baby Café locations. At both Baby Café locations, mothers can relax, share tips and techniques, and socialize with other moms. One-on-one help from specially trained breastfeeding health professionals is available to help improve breastfeeding techniques. Babies can also be weighed at the Baby Café, providing ongoing additional support for parents as their baby grows.
The Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services WIC Programs are dedicated to improving pregnancy outcomes, reducing the number of low-birth-weight infants, supporting and encouraging breastfeeding, and supporting the growth and development of infants and children. For more information on the Baby Café, please call Jamaica WIC at 718-657-2580 or Woodside WIC at 718-715-7001 or visit www.ccbq.org.
PHOTO 1 (Jamaica Grand Opening): Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services WIC Program, Northwell LIJ Forest Hills, local families and more gather to celebrate the grand opening of the Jamaica Baby Café location.
Photographed from the left: Joni Watson, Health Program Administrator at NY Department of Health; Ellie Bauer, Public Health Nutritionist at NY Department of Health; Lorraine Chambers Lewis, President at Northwell Health LIJ Forest Hills; Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services, Inc. client; Brenda Wilson, RN, Lactation Consultant at Northwell Health LIJ Forest Hills; Walter Sanchez, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Trustee; Pamela Bulford, Office Representative for Assembly Member Alicia Hyndman; Katherina Thompson, District Manager for Queens Community Board 12; Mary Hurson, SVP of Family Services at Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens; Leonard Jacobs, Executive Director for Jamacia Center for Arts and Learning; Leoniza Nazareno, Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services, Inc. WIC Program Director; Jayda Sealy, Office Representative for NY State Senator Leroy Comrie; Yael Akilov, Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services, Inc. WIC Program Breastfeeding Coordinator; and Anikie Singh Community Coordinator at Queens Community Board 12.
(Photo credit: Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens)
PHOTO 2 (Woodside Grand Opening): Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services WIC Program, Northwell LIJ Forest Hills, local elected officials, families and more gather to celebrate the grand opening of the Woodside Baby Café location.
Photographed from the left: Lauren Springer, HHSE Chair of Queens Community Board 2; Brenda Wilson, RN, Lactation Consultant at Northwell Health LIJ Forest Hills; Farah Salim, Office Representative for Council Member Julie Won; Ebony Young, Deputy Queens Borough President; Mary Hurson, SVP of Family Services at Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens; Congresswoman Grace Meng, Sixth District of New York; Nicole Simmons, Nursing Manager at Northwell Health LIJ Forest Hills; Yael Akilov, Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services, Inc. WIC Program Breastfeeding Coordinator; Stancy Saji, Government and Community Relations at Northwell Health LIJ Forest Hills; Leoniza Nazareno, Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services, Inc. WIC Program Director; and a Northwell Health LIJ Forest Hills client.
(Photo credit: Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens)
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About Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens
For 127 years, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has provided essential social services to the boroughs’ diverse communities. Operating more than 160 programs, the organization helps children, families, older adults, and individuals facing mental health challenges. Since 1975, it has developed over 4,000 affordable housing units, making it one of the nation’s largest faith-based affordable housing providers. Each year, Catholic Charities delivers millions of meals through food pantries, pop-up distributions, older adult centers, and home-delivery services for the homebound. The organization serves hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers each year through emergency assistance, mental health support, affordable housing, family services, and early childhood education. For more information, visit www.ccbq.org.
About Northwell Health Long Island Jewish Forest Hills
Northwell Health Long Island Jewish Forest Hills is a 312-bed community hospital serving the diverse communities of Queens. As part of New York State’s largest health system, the hospital provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services, including maternity care, women’s health, emergency medicine, surgical services, orthopedics, behavioral health, and specialty care. Through clinical excellence and community partnerships, LIJ Forest Hills is committed to improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves.