Mothers’ Milk Bank to open milk drop site

Grand opening is July 12 at Erie County Health Department/Erie County WIC

The OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank is celebrating the grand opening of a new milk drop location at Erie County Health Department/Erie County WIC at 2 p.m., July 12, at 420 Superior St. in Sandusky, according to a news release.

The milk bank will house a freezer to store donated human milk, which then will be transferred to the milk bank in Columbus at no cost to the donor, the release said.

The OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank, under the guidelines of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), provides pasteurized human milk to those infants whose mothers are unable to provide milk to nourish their babies, according to the release.

It is one of just 29 milk banks in North America — 26 in the United States and three in Canada.

“We are thrilled to be opening this new milk drop to make donating even easier,” said Chris Smith, outreach coordinator and lactation consultant at the milk bank. “With this new milk drop, approved donors in and around Sandusky can conveniently donate their milk.

“Pasteurized donor milk is liquid gold for babies who need it. In 2021 alone, we distributed nearly 421,107 ounces of milk all over the country — that’s 3,289 gallons! Just one ounce can feed a premature infant for three days, so every little bit helps.”

The Sandusky site marks the 18th OhioHealth milk drop location in Ohio.

The donated milk is distributed throughout North America to babies in need.

“We are so excited to open a milk drop site at the Erie County Health Department,” said Andrea Caudill, who oversees the Erie/Huron County WIC Program. “This new partnership will ensure local mothers have a convenient place to drop off their donated breastmilk to share with infants and children who need it the most.”

The milk bank, which is located in the OhioHealth Eastside Health Center in Columbus, relies on donations from healthy, lactating women who generously provide milk to help other babies, according to the release.

Interested donors are encouraged to email milkbank@ohiohealth.com or call 614-566.0630 to arrange a screening phone interview.

To become a human milk donor, mothers must take part in a screening process to ensure the quality and safety of the milk.

This process includes a phone screening to verify eligibility, completion of a medical and lifestyle history review, a signed medical release from the donor and physician and consent to receive a blood test to screen for HIV, HTLV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and syphilis, according to the release.

The donated milk is pasteurized, frozen and distributed by physician prescription, the release said.

The milk bank, which is located in the OhioHealth Eastside Health Center in Columbus, relies on donations from healthy, lactating women who generously provide milk to help other babies, according to the release.