The Effingham County and Clay County Health Departments are partnering with The Milk Bank to establish two milk depot sites.
Launched in 2005, The Milk Bank is a non-profit organization that provides human milk to ill and premature infants. It is one of 20 milk banks in the United States. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) human milk is an ideal food for ill and premature infants, that can be easily digested and saves thousands of dollars for new parents. As the amount of infants needing this milk increases daily, the need for human milk depots increases as well.
Mothers approved by The Milk Bank for donation can drop off their milk at both Health Departments. Once the milk has been donated to the Health departments, it is frozen and transported to The Milk Bank in Indianapolis. There it will be processed and brought to neonatal/newborn intensive care units throughout the Midwest.
For additional information on The Milk Bank, visit www.themilkbank.org or call 317-536-1670. The Effingham County Health Department is located at 901 W Virginia Ave in Effingham, and the Clay County Health Department is located at 601 E 12th St in Flora.