Virtual Breast Milk Drive Launches to Support Critically Ill Infants

Three leading maternal health organizations have joined forces to launch a virtual breast milk drive throughout February 2025, addressing the increasing need for donor breast milk for vulnerable infants. The 'Share the Love' campaign, organized by Mother's Milk Bank California, Human Milk Connection, and the Sacramento Breastfeeding Coalition, aims to make milk donation more accessible through a home-based collection system.

The initiative comes at a critical time when demand for donor breast milk continues to rise in neonatal intensive care units across the country. For premature infants and those with severe medical conditions, breast milk serves as both nutrition and medicine, making reliable donor supplies essential for survival.

The program's virtual format represents a significant innovation in milk banking, eliminating traditional barriers to donation by providing pre-paid shipping kits and at-home pickup services. This convenience factor could potentially increase donor participation and help maintain consistent milk supplies for vulnerable infants.

'We believe every baby deserves the opportunity to receive human milk, and mothers with extra breast milk have the power to make that possible,' stated Janel Silva, co-founder of Human Milk Connection.

This initiative builds upon Mother's Milk Bank California's 50-year legacy as a founding member of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). Their established screening and safety protocols ensure that donated milk meets rigorous safety standards before distribution to hospitals and families.

The virtual milk drive could serve as a model for future donation programs, potentially transforming how milk banks collect donations and expanding access to this vital resource for medically fragile infants nationwide.