Knox County’s WIC Milk Drop Partnership Resumes

MOUNT VERNON — In August, Breastfeeding Network of Knox County celebrated Breastfeeding Awareness Month with a global event, Big Latch On.

Additionally, WIC and Women United, a program of the United Way, reopened the Knox County WIC Milk Drop.

The local event was held on Friday, August 23 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Knox Public Health. It welcomed all local mothers, their breastfeeding babies and those who participated in breastfeeding, as well as their friends and family members.

The Knox County WIC Milk Drop exists in Knox County thanks to the invaluable support of Women United, who generously provided funds to purchase a freezer and thermometer.

This inspiring event was attended by Katie Ellis, Executive Director, and Halle Krajenski, Program Director, of Women United, as well as Chris Smith, RN, BA, IBCLC, Outreach and Operations Coordinator, OhioHealth Maternal Milk Bank.

Knox Public Health will set up a freezer to store donated human milk, which will then be transferred to a milk bank in Columbus at no cost to the donor.

The freezer was purchased with funding from Women United, a program of the United Way of Knox County.

OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank, operating 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 the milk necessary to nourish their children.

Donated milk is distributed to children in need throughout North America.

“We are so excited to reopen the Knox County WIC Milk Drop,” said Heidi Myers, a certified lactation consultant who leads the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program project at Knox Public Health.

“This space will allow us to provide breastfeeding mothers with a safe and hassle-free way to share their milk with babies and vulnerable children.”

The milk bank, located at OhioHealth Eastside Health Center in Columbus, relies on donations from healthy, breastfeeding women who generously donate their milk to help other babies.

Interested donors are encouraged to email [email protected] or call 614-566-0630 to schedule a phone interview prior to the event. To become a human milk donor, mothers must participate in a screening process to ensure the quality and safety of their milk.

The process includes telephone verification of eligibility, a review of medical and lifestyle history, a signed medical release from the donor and physician, and consent to a blood test to screen for HIV, HTLV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis.

Donated milk is pasteurized, frozen, and distributed based on a doctor’s prescription. Approved mothers who wish to donate milk at a WIC facility are asked to contact the Knox County WIC clinic to schedule an appointment.
time of delivery.

For more information about OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank, including a video, visit https://www.ohiohealth.com/locations/womens-health/mothers-milk-bank/

For more information about breastfeeding and Ohio’s WIC program, 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.