DE PERE, Wis. (WBAY) – Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes (Milk Bank WGL) and De Pere Health Department have partnered to bring a new human milk drop-off depot to De Pere.
This joint effort increases access for approved donors and families in the area to donate lifesaving, critical nutrition for pediatric patients in need.
Starting May 6, donations will be accepted via appointment only.
“Having a milk depot in De Pere is an amazing development. With this new location, milk donors will be able to drop off their milk conveniently and quickly. We are so happy to partner with the De Pere Health Department to promote the health and well-being of the youngest and most vulnerable members of the community. The health department is a champion for promoting health and wellbeing for their community, and these depots are a perfect addition to doing just that,” Amber Barnes, Clinical Manager.
The milk depot will accept milk donations from healthy, lactating women who are screened and approved as donors through Milk Bank WGL.
Individuals interested in donating through Milk Bank WGL can visit www.milkbankwgl.org.
The donor application process typically takes about two weeks.
Upon collection, donations are transported to the milk bank’s processing facility in Elk Grove Village, Ill., where the milk is pasteurized to eliminate viruses and bacteria.
The pasteurized milk is tested by a third-party lab and distributed to hospitals and outpatients in Illinois and Wisconsin.
Most of the pasteurized donor human milk dispensed by Milk Bank WGL is delivered to Wisconsin and Illinois hospitals, including Ascension NE Wisconsin: St. Elizabeth Campus, Aurora Baycare Medical Center, Fox Valley Hospital-Children’s Wisconsin and more.
Donor milk is primarily used in the NICU or postpartum unit.
Individuals looking to purchase donor milk for home use can visit www.milkbankwgl.org for a list of milk dispensaries or to fill out an outpatient interest form.
“We are excited to collaborate with Mother’s Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes to be a convenient, local access point for donors. We feel it’s important to raise awareness in our community about resources available for those looking to donate milk or those in need of accessing donor milk,” Sara Lornson, BSN, RN, De Pere Health Department Deputy Health Officer, said.
Approved donors can access the De Pere Health Department Milk Depot Monday–Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment only.
Before dropping off milk donations, please make an appointment online at https://form.jotform.com/251065056902048 or call the health department directly at 920-339-4054.
For more information on the De Pere Health Department, visit www.deperewi.gov/health.
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