In August, the Breastfeeding Network of Knox County celebrated Breastfeeding Awareness Month by taking part in the Global Big Latch On event. Additionally, WIC and Women United, a program of United Way, reopened the Knox County WIC Milk Drop site.

The local event took place on Friday, Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to noon at Knox Public Health. It welcomed all local mothers, their breastfeeding children, and those who have participated in breastfeeding, as well as their friends and family members. The Knox County WIC Milk Drop site owes its existence in Knox County to the invaluable support of Women United, who generously provided funding for the freezer and thermometer. Katie Ellis, executive director and Halle Krajenski, program director from Women United along with Chris Smith, RN, BA, IBCLC, outreach & operations coordinator from the OhioHealth Mothers' milk bank, were present at this event.

Knox Public Health will house a freezer to store donated human milk, which will then be transferred to the milk bank in Columbus at no cost to the donor. The freezer was purchased with funding from Women United, a program of United Way of Knox County. The OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank, under the guidelines of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), provides pasteurized human milk to infants whose mothers are unable to provide milk to nourish their babies. The donated milk is distributed throughout North America to babies in need.

“We are very excited about the re-opening of the Knox County WIC Milk Drop,” said Heidi Myers, a certified lactation counselor who spearheaded the project for the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program at Knox Public Health. “The drop site will enable us to provide a safe and trouble-free way for nursing mothers to share their milk with medically fragile infants and children.”

The milk bank, located in the OhioHealth Eastside Health Center in Columbus, relies on donations from healthy, lactating women who generously provide milk to help other babies. Interested donors are encouraged to email milkbank@ohiohealth.com or call (614) 566.0630 to arrange a screening phone interview before the event. 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. The donated milk is pasteurized, frozen, and distributed by physician prescription. Approved mothers who want to drop off milk at the WIC location are instructed to call the Knox County WIC clinic to schedule a drop-off time. To learn more about the OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank, including a video, may be found at ohiohealth.com/locations/womens-health/mothers-milk-bank/

For more information about breastfeeding and Ohio WIC, visit odh.ohio.gov or Knox Health.com. To stay up to date on public health topics follow Knox County WIC or Knox Public Health on Facebook, Instagram or X.