Breast milk has often been called "liquid gold" because it is incredibly beneficial for babies' growth and development and comes only from human moms, who are able to produce it.
Breast milk has benefits for babies, but not every mother is able to produce enough and many parents who adopt children would like them to get this healthy start.
Fortunately, in Westchester County, breast milk for babies in need is available. The New York Milk Bank is the first comprehensive nonprofit milk bank based in New York State. They collect milk from carefully screened donors, pasteurize it and distribute to infants in New York State and the surrounding area. They currently serve 31 hospitals including these four Westchester hospitals:
Westchester Medical Center, White Plains Hospital, Phelps Hospital, and Northern Westchester Hospital.
So whether you want to give or receive milk, this is an incredible local resource for moms.
Breast milk has benefits for babies, but not every mother is able to produce enough and many parents who adopt children would like them to get this healthy start.
Fortunately, in Westchester County, breast milk for babies in need is available. The New York Milk Bank is the first comprehensive nonprofit milk bank based in New York State. They collect milk from carefully screened donors, pasteurize it and distribute to infants in New York State and the surrounding area. They currently serve 31 hospitals including these four Westchester hospitals:
Westchester Medical Center, White Plains Hospital, Phelps Hospital, and Northern Westchester Hospital.
So whether you want to give or receive milk, this is an incredible local resource for moms.
Getting Milk
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Milk is being delivered in an usual way-- from women on motorcycles, who are are using their bikes to help moms and babies in need as part of a special program that is the first of its kind in New York. Dubbed the “milk riders,” the women are part of the Sirens Women’s Motorcycle Club. When they roll up to homes on their Harley’s carrying donated breast milk, it is cause for a celebration.
“When we had this opportunity to help mothers and babies, we were like, ‘we’ve got to do it,’” Sandra Fleming, of Sirens Women’s Motorcycle Club, told News 4.
“They delivered milk at midnight in the middle of winter to some of our hospitals,” NY Milk Bank Founder Julie Bouchet-Horwitz said. “They were amazing.”
Babies like Viviana are thriving because of the donated milk. She was born by emergency c-section in May with doctors concerned that she may have suffered brain damage. Her weeks in the NICU made it hard for her mom to keep up her milk supply and now she thanks the “village” of people who helped her daughter.
“She does so well because of so many people,” mother Stephanie Noonan said. “We are just so grateful to everyone who’s involved. The women who donate, the bank and the ‘Milk Riders’ who deliver it.”
The donated breast milk is collected, tested and pasteurized at the New York Milk Bank in Valhalla – the only milk bank in the state.
The 1,700 women who donated milk to the milk bank all went through a rigorous screening process. Since the milk bank opened three years ago, officials say it has helped thousands of babies – both in hospitals and at home – stay healthy.
“When we had this opportunity to help mothers and babies, we were like, ‘we’ve got to do it,’” Sandra Fleming, of Sirens Women’s Motorcycle Club, told News 4.
“They delivered milk at midnight in the middle of winter to some of our hospitals,” NY Milk Bank Founder Julie Bouchet-Horwitz said. “They were amazing.”
Babies like Viviana are thriving because of the donated milk. She was born by emergency c-section in May with doctors concerned that she may have suffered brain damage. Her weeks in the NICU made it hard for her mom to keep up her milk supply and now she thanks the “village” of people who helped her daughter.
“She does so well because of so many people,” mother Stephanie Noonan said. “We are just so grateful to everyone who’s involved. The women who donate, the bank and the ‘Milk Riders’ who deliver it.”
The donated breast milk is collected, tested and pasteurized at the New York Milk Bank in Valhalla – the only milk bank in the state.
The 1,700 women who donated milk to the milk bank all went through a rigorous screening process. Since the milk bank opened three years ago, officials say it has helped thousands of babies – both in hospitals and at home – stay healthy.
Giving Milk
The milk bank is always on the look for donations from carefully screened donors to provide breast milk for New York’s infants in need. So if you have a large supply of unused milk that you would like to give to someone who needs it, this is the perfect option.
If you are interested in donating, you must be screened for health concerns and communicable disease and meet the following basic requirements:
They are able to accept previously frozen milk stored for 3 or 6 months prior to your approval date depending on the type of freezer you are using.
There are two convenient drop off locations in Westchester County:
Westchester Depot
19 Pine Avenue
Ossining, NY
The New York Milk Bank
401 Columbus Avenue
Valhalla, NY
Ready to get started? Fill out this form on their website or call 212-956-MILK (6455).
If you are interested in donating, you must be screened for health concerns and communicable disease and meet the following basic requirements:
- In good health and able to breastfeed, with a surplus of milk.
- No use of nicotine products or regular use of milk enhancing herbs, including fenugreek or blessed thistle.
- Minimal use of medications. Call and they’ll help determine whether a medication is safe for milk donation.
- Willing to undergo a thorough health history screening and get a free blood test for communicable diseases.
- Able to donate at least 100 ounces of milk, unless you are a bereaved mother, in which case we will gladly accept any size donation.
They are able to accept previously frozen milk stored for 3 or 6 months prior to your approval date depending on the type of freezer you are using.
There are two convenient drop off locations in Westchester County:
Westchester Depot
19 Pine Avenue
Ossining, NY
The New York Milk Bank
401 Columbus Avenue
Valhalla, NY
Ready to get started? Fill out this form on their website or call 212-956-MILK (6455).
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