What is a Milk Depot?
A Milk Depot is a conveniently located collection site for approved human milk donors. Area donors that have been approved by The Milk Bank can drop off their excess breastmilk at the Depot. These donations are collected and sent to The Milk Bank where they will be bottled, pasteurized and tested for sterility by an independent lab before being dispensed to an ordering hospital or to an outpatient.
Who can be a Milk Depot?
A Depot is typically an organization that has some sort of interaction with breastfeeding or pumping moms. These organizations range from local doctors offices or hospitals to WIC offices to
retail stores specializing in maternity and nursing supplies. Youu will be providing a beneficial service to The Milk Bank donors and breastfeeding moms in your community. Most Depots find that milk bank donors become more familiar with other services provided by the Depot. Milk Depots also find an increase in public awareness due to media coverage.
How does a Milk Depot store the donated milk?
The Milk Bank will provide the Depot with a 16-20 cubic foot lockable freezer that must be placed in a secure location.
How does the Milk Depot ship milk?
Milk Depots within the Indianapolis area are asked to contact The Milk Bank to have the milk picked up. For Depots outside of the Indianapolis area The Milk Bank will provide foam coolers in cardboard boxes and pre-paid UPS shipping labels. Each box should
contain 5lbs of dry ice. Shipping instructions and suggestions on how to properly pack a box will be provided by The Milk Bank.
What does it cost to be a Milk Depot?
There is no cost to a Milk Depot aside from staff time to pack the coolers for shipment. Any other costs associated with dry ice and shipping will be reimbursed.
Is there anything else a Milk Depot has to do?
Yes, but it’s not much. The Milk Bank asks that Depots keep track of donations using a donation log. We also ask that you keep a daily log of the freezer temperature. The Milk Bank will provide you with forms for both logs.
How do we become a Milk Depot?
Complete the information form below and a representative will contact you to answer any questions you might have, as well as provide you with a Milk Depot Agreement for your review and signature. Once the Agreement is fully executed The Milk Bank will have a freezer delivered to your location and we’ll begin planning an official grand opening celebration that will include promotion on The Milk Bank social media and website as well as the dissemination of a press release to local media outlets.