New breast milk donation site opens in Leon County in partnership with Healthy Start

Special to the Tallahassee Democrat
·2 min read
Certified human milk banks screen donors, and safely collect, process, handle, pasteurize, test, and store the milk.
Certified human milk banks screen donors, and safely collect, process, handle, pasteurize, test, and store the milk.

Local mothers looking to donate breast milk in Leon County now have a new opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of families and premature babies.

Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition has partnered with the Mothers’ Milk Bank of Florida to become a milk donation site in Leon County.

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Babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare and HCA Florida Capital Hospital (formerly Capital Regional Medical Center) depend on this lifesaving nourishment to thrive when their mother’s milk is not available.

In addition, donor milk is often used by premature babies and older babies who cannot tolerate formula, have weakened immune systems or have special dietary needs.

“We are excited to partner with the Mothers’ Milk Bank of Florida by becoming a milk donation site in Leon County,” said Chris Szorcsik, Executive Director of Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition. “In 2020, 11% of our babies in Leon and Wakulla Counties were born premature. Babies born premature depend on the lifesaving nourishment of donor milk to thrive when their mother’s milk is not available.”

Szorcsik notes that every drop of breast milk makes a difference in the long-term survival of a sick baby. Capital Area Healthy Start’s goal is to raise awareness of the need for donor milk, to encourage those who can to become a donor, and to provide a convenient location for local moms to drop off their excess milk.

Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition has partnered with the Mothers’ Milk Bank of Florida to become a milk donation site in Leon County.
Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition has partnered with the Mothers’ Milk Bank of Florida to become a milk donation site in Leon County.

Those interested in donating breast milk can learn more at capitalareahealthystart.org or by contacting Chris Szorcsik at 850-488-0288, ext. 101. Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition requests that breast milk donors call ahead to schedule an appointment. The depot location for the Greater Big Bend Area is 1311 N. Paul Russell Rd. Suite A-101, Tallahassee.

The Mothers’ Milk Bank of Florida is a 501c(3) charitable organization that has collected and distributed over one-million ounces of breast milk to date. For additional information about the organization and the donation process, visit milkbankofflorida.org.

Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition (CAHSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that was created to decrease the high rates of infant deaths in Leon and Wakulla counties. The organization is dedicated to improving the health of infants and their families.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Mothers' Milk Bank opens Tallahassee donation site with Healthy Start