New milk depot in De Pere aims to support pediatric patients in need

HSHS St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay opened the area's first breast milk dispensary, June 27, 2019. PC: Fox 11 Online

DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A human milk drop-off depot is opening in De Pere.

It’s the result of a partnership between Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes and the De Pere Health Department.

Donations will be accepted beginning Tuesday, allowing families in the area to provide lifesaving, critical nutrition to pediatric patients in need.

“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 wellbeing of the youngest and most vulnerable members of the community,” said Amber Barnes, clinical manager, in a news release.

The milk depot will accept donations from healthy, lactating women who are screened and approved as donors through Milk Bank WGL. Officials say the donor application process typically takes about two weeks.

Click here to apply.

Once donations are collected, they are transported to the milk bank’s processing facility, where the milk is pasteurized to eliminate viruses and bacteria. The pasteurized milk is then tested by a third-party lab before being distributed to hospitals and outpatients in Illinois and Wisconsin — including right here in Northeast Wisconsin.

Donor milk is primarily used in the hospitals’ NICU and/or postpartum units.

Families who would like to purchase donor milk for home use can click here for more information.

“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,” said De Pere Health Department Deputy Health Officer Sara Lornson in the release.

Approved donors can drop off donations at the De Pere Health Department Milk Depot from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Click here to make an appointment.