As of Thursday, Mothers’ Milk Bank of Austin officially has distributed 5 million ounces of breast milk to preterm and medically fragile babies since it opened in 1999. The milk has been donated by more than 8,000 mothers, and been given to more than 29,000 babies from around the country.
Katrina Hunt, milk processing coordinator, mixes milk from several donors at the Mother’s Milk Bank in Austin. The milk is poured into bottles, then pasteurized, and then dispensed. American-Statesman 2010
“Every ounce of milk dispensed represents a compassionate gift from a donor, and a lifesaving gift to a recipient. Over the past 18 years, with the support of our community, we have expanded
our impact to serve babies in need across Texas and 22 other states,” said Kim Updegrove, Milk Bank executive director said in a press release. “We couldn’t save lives without the dedication of the mothers who donate their milk, the financial supporters who make sure that we have the resources to never turn someone away, and the volunteers who make our work possible.”
This has been a big year for the bank. It moved into a new 15,000-square-foot facility, its forth location in 18 years and the first one it owns. That facility will allows it to process even more milk as well as do more community outreach such as breastfeeding and parenting classes.
This year, it also added more milk donors than any year previously — more than 1,000 new donors.
Find out more about Mothers’ Milk Bank of Austin at milkbank.org.
