Appleton Opens New Milk Depot to Support Local Families and Hospitals 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

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A new partnership aims to enhance access to lifesaving donor milk for pediatric patients in need.

Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes (Milk Bank WGL), and the Appleton Department of Public Health formed a new human milk drop-off depot in Appleton.

The milk depot will accept milk donations from healthy, lactating women who are screened and approved as donors through Milk Bank WGL.

Donations will be accepted via appointment only.

Individuals interested in donating through Milk Bank WGL can go online. The donor application process typically takes about two weeks.

Upon collection, donations are transported to the milk bank’s processing facility in Elk Grove Village, Illinois where the milk is pasteurized to eliminate viruses and bacteria. The pasteurized milk is tested by a third-party lab and distributed to hospitals and outpatients in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Most of the pasteurized donor human milk dispensed by Milk Bank WGL is delivered to Wisconsin and Illinois hospitals including Ascension NE Wisconsin: St. Elizabeth Campus, Aurora Baycare Medical Center, Fox Valley Hospital-Children’s Wisconsin and more. Donor milk is primarily used in the NICU or postpartum unit.

Individuals looking to purchase donor milk for home use can go online for a list of milk dispensaries or to fill out an outpatient interest form.

“We are excited to be a drop off site for the Mother’s Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes. Previously, the nearest locations were Green Bay and Oshkosh. Our site makes this more convenient for local donors.” Amanda Hatch BSN, RN, City of Appleton Department of Public Health Nurse.

Approved donors can access the Appleton Department of Public Health Depot Monday – Friday from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., by appointment only. The depot is closed on weekends. Before dropping off milk donations, please contact the Department of Public Health directly.