The Dashing Dairy Department

Human milk is the recommended nutritional standard for babies. But it is even more critical for premature and sick babies. Scientists have found that among babies weighing less than 5.5 lbs. at birth, those fed infant formula have up to a 6 TIMES GREATER RISK of developing a number of life-threatening conditions.

Among the preemie babies born each year weighing less than 3.3 lbs. (3,750 of whom are born annually in Illinois and Wisconsin), 12% will develop a devastating condition called necrotizing enterocolitis or NEC.   When NEC develops, part of a baby’s intestines becomes inflamed and dies.  Many babies who contract NEC become critically ill and need surgery to treat it.  NEC is so prevalent and so expensive that NEC treatments alone account for 19% of all newborn health-care costs.

The Mothers' Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes will join the other 10 milk banks throughout the United States to collect, pasteurize and distribute donor milk to babies in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Help us open our doors with a monetary donation (of any size), so that we can save lives and promote healthy beginnings to our local community!