The Milk Bank is partnering with the Indiana Department of Health and WIC to collect safe donor milk at the IU Health Bloomington Community Building Saturday, August 13, 2022, in Bloomington, Indiana.
The milk drive will be from 10 a.m. until noon, and the community building is located at 333 E Miller Dr, Bloomington, IN 47401.
The Milk Bank sent the following press release to the Bloomingtonian:
“For Immediate Release Media Contacts
August 10, 2022 Jenna Streit, The Milk Bank
317-536-1670
[email protected]
Indiana Department of Health
[email protected]
State Health Department Partners with The Milk Bank to Provide Formula for Hoosier Babies
The infant formula shortage continues to impact families and infant health across the United States. Indiana has been particularly affected by not only shortages in stores and safety recalls associated with Abbott Nutrition, but also breastfeeding rates below the national average1.
While national relief efforts are underway, restocking shelves will take
time, and families need help urgently. Thanks to philanthropic
donations to our medical relief fund, The Milk Bank is able to provide
safe pasteurized donor human milk to hundreds of families needing to
bridge infant nutrition. Call us at 317-536-1670 to discuss your
outpatient needs or complete the application online at
themilkbank.org/recipient-app.
State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG, said, “In the absence
of a mother’s own milk, pasteurized donor human milk offers optimal
nutrition, easy digestibility and immunologic protection against diseases. Since every ounce counts, we are launching milk drives around the state to ensure that there is enough donor milk for every infant in need.”
The Every Ounce Counts initiative is a statewide collaborative effort to increase both immediate and long-term milk donations. The goal of Every Ounce Counts is to provide convenient opportunities for milk donors to help improve infant health and save lives. Indiana WIC offers a breastfeeding support program and supports lactating parents in providing human milk to their infants.
Although the milk drives have the immediate goal of increasing both human milk donors and the human milk supply to distribute back to the community, they also have a goal to increase awareness around human milk and optimal infant feeding. The clinics will have information about safe options to donate not only in the shortage, but even after the crisis passes.
According to Freedom Kolb, Executive Director of The Milk Bank, “More than 1,000 milk donors step forward every year to make sure all babies have their best chance to survive and thrive. Over the last month, we’ve seen an 89% surge in demand and more than 200% increase in medical relief requests.
We are grateful to the Indiana Department of Health and our philanthropic partners for helping us
1 www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard.htm
Pasteurized Donor Human Milk from
The Milk Bank
ensure that no baby goes hungry and the ability to pay does not dictate health outcomes. Truly every ounce does count.” Milk drives allow interested donors to complete their blood draw–an important safety step–and make their first donation during one convenient event, which gets milk to tiny tummies faster. Pre-register online, and The Milk Bank will be in touch to answer questions and help with next steps.
Every Ounce Counts launched on July 26 with Franciscan Health Lafayette hosting a milk drive at the Franciscan Community Center. Future milk drives will be held on the following schedule:
• Aug. 3 in Marion County with Franciscan Health Indianapolis from 10am to 2pm
• Aug. 13 in Monroe County with IU Health Bloomington Community Building from 10am to noon.
To register for a milk drive or express interest in the additional dates and locations, go to www.themilkbank.org/events/milkdrive. Interested donors unable to attend a milk drive can start the process at www.themilkbank.org/donate-milk.
About The Milk Bank: The Milk Bank is a non-profit tissue bank dispensing more than 400,000 ounces of pasteurized donor human milk to hospitals and families throughout the region every year. The Milk Bank
improves health outcomes for premature and ill infants, foster better health for children and decreases health care expenditures. The Milk Bank follows the strictest safety standards informed by the CDC and FDA and is a proud member of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). Visit https://www.themilkbank.org/ to learn more.
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