Female Motorcycle Group Helps Transport Breast Milk to Babies in Need

The New York Milk Bank delivers donated breast milk to babies in need if the mother’s breast milk is unavailable or in low supply — but executive director Julie Bouchet-Horwitz wanted to find a faster way to transport the milk.

While sitting in traffic, Bouchet-Horwitz noticed motorcycles zipping through lanes. She got the idea to get an all-female motorcycle group involved, and reached out to Sirens Women’s Motorcycle Group of New York City.

“I didn’t look for a male motorcycle club ― I immediately thought of women because of the female connection between all of us,” she told the Huffington Post. “It’s women who are donating milk and nursing their babies.”

The group’s president, Jen Baquial, brought up the idea at a club meeting, and the members unanimously voted to bring the idea to life. They dubbed their new volunteer operation the Milk Riders.
“After speaking with Julie and learning about the amazing work that the NYMB has been doing to get life-saving breast milk to babies that need it, I was immediately excited and wanted to let the club know about it,” Baquial told the news site.

The Milk Riders help transport pre-screened breast milk from donor mothers to the NYMB storage facility, and also deliver processed and pasteurized milk from the milk bank to hospitals and private homes in need.

“It’s all about women helping women helping babies,” said Bouchet-Horwitz.