Kentucky Blood Center is expanding its partnership with The Milk Bank to include a seventh drop-off location for frozen breast milk.
Starting April 17, KBC’s Frankfort donor center will accept donations of frozen breast milk from approved donors of The Milk Bank. KBC – the largest independent, full-service, nonprofit blood center in Kentucky – opened four milk depots in October 2021 at its two Lexington (Beaumont, Andover) and Louisville (Middletown, Hillview) donor centers. They added Milk Depots to the Somerset and Pikeville donor centers in April 2022.
Donated milk is transported to The Milk Bank – a nonprofit milk bank improving health outcomes for premature and ill infants – to be pasteurized and distributed to NICUs and outpatient families, primarily in Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri. To get pre-screened or ask questions on eligibility, contact The Milk Bank at (317) 536-1670 or visit themilkbank.org/donate-milk.
“Kentucky Blood Center loves supporting the work of The Milk Bank and we are happy to expand the partnership further,” said Mandy Brajuha, Vice President at KBC. “Knowing how many milk donors have taken advantage of these convenient locations to help our most vulnerable neighbors is very rewarding for our team.”
Nearly a half million feedings have been provided by donations made at KBC’s Milk Depots since the partnership was launched in 2021.
“The partnership between Kentucky Blood Center and The Milk Bank is saving infant lives,” said Freedom Kolb, CEO of The Milk Bank. “We are grateful for this expansion that will allow infants born too small, too sick, or too soon to have their best chance at celebrating a first birthday. We are inspired by all the amazing milk donors accessing these drop-off sites to provide the gift of health and life.”
Approved milk donors can deliver frozen breast milk during normal operating hours at KBC’s seven donor centers. Donor center hours can be found on KBC’s website.
Drop-off locations include:
Andover Donor Center
3130 Maple Leaf Dr.
Lexington, KY 40509
859.327.3223
Beaumont Donor Center
3121 Beaumont Centre Cir.
Lexington, KY 40513
859.276.2534
Frankfort Donor Center
363 Versailles Rd.
Frankfort, KY 40601
502.234.2447
Hillview Donor Center
5406 Antle Dr.
Louisville, KY 40229
502.915.0989
Middletown Donor Center
12905 Shelbyville Rd.
Louisville, KY 40243
502.290.0537
Pikeville Donor Center
472 S. Mayo Trail
Pikeville, KY 41501
606.432.4979
Somerset Donor Center
10 Stonegate Centre (Stoplight 16A)
Somerset, KY 42503
606.679.7413
About The Milk Bank
The Milk Bank is a non-profit tissue bank dispensing more than 600,000 ounces of pasteurized donor human milk to hospitals and families throughout the region every year. Since its inception in 2005, The Milk Bank has provided more than 15.6 million feedings of safe human milk to those who are often born too small, too sick, or too soon. The Milk Bank follows the strictest safety standards informed by the CDC and FDA and is a proud member of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). Visit https://www.themilkbank.org/ to learn more.
About Kentucky Blood Center
KBC, the largest independent, full-service, nonprofit blood center in Kentucky, has been saving local lives since 1968. Licensed by the FDA, KBC’s sole purpose is to collect, process and distribute blood for patients in Kentucky. KBC provides services in 90 Kentucky counties and has donor centers in Lexington, Louisville, Frankfort, Pikeville, Somerset and the Tri-County area (Corbin).
