PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Milk Bank Contact: Lindsay McGuire
Assistant Director of Advancement – Branding & Outreach, The Milk Bank
Lmcguire@themilkbank.org
317-536-1670
Mercy Hospital Washington Contact: Bethany Pope
Media Relations Manager, Mercy
bethany.pope@mercy.net
314-753-0451
Mercy Hospital Washington First MO Hospital to Host a Milk Depot and Milk Express
Program expands access to safe donor breast milk, supports infant health and health equity
WASHINGTON, Mo (Oct. 15, 2025) — Mercy Hospital Washington expanded access to lifesaving pasteurized donor human milk for infants and their families with a new Milk Express site, in partnership with The Milk Bank, which opened to the public on August 28, 2025.
The Milk Express site, located on the fourth floor of the hospital, is a convenient place parents and caregivers—both within the hospital and across the community—can pick up orders of pasteurized donor human milk from The Milk Bank. Quick access to safe donor milk gives parents peace of mind when it is needed as a medical treatment, to bridge a gap early in postpartum, or to help meet breastfeeding goals.
A grand opening event is scheduled from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 12 in the hospital’s conference rooms near the cafeteria, following its weekly Weigh-in Wednesday moms group.
“The support we’ve seen from moms in the area who want to help others by donating their excess milk has been tremendous,” said Nicki Harriman, internationally board certified lactation consultant at Mercy Hospital Washington. “We heard from our patients that having a reputable source for human milk is something they were interested in and since we already have a relationship with The Milk Bank, it was a no brainer.”
The opening of the new Milk Express makes Mercy Hospital Washington the first hospital in Missouri to house both a Milk Express and a Milk Depot under one roof. Their Milk Depot is a convenient, community-based location where approved donors of The Milk Bank can drop off donations of frozen breast milk.
“Having both a Milk Depot and Milk Express site in one location is an incredible way to support infants and families in our communities,” said Freedom Kolb, CEO of The Milk Bank. “This collaboration with Mercy Hospital Washington helps us serve more babies and support families at every step of their journey.”
Mercy Hospital Washington’s Milk Depot opened in October 2023 to help protect the supply of donor milk that is critical to the care of Missouri’s tiniest patients. All donated milk is transported to The Milk Bank—a nonprofit milk bank improving health outcomes for premature and ill infants—where it is processed, analyzed, pasteurized and distributed to hospitals, families and Milk Express sites across the country.
Mercy Hospital Washington is also making pasteurized donor human milk available for select inpatient infants with a medically necessary need. This expansion shows Mercy Washington’s commitment to maternal and infant health, providing life-sustaining nutrition to newborns while supporting equitable access for families in need.
For more information on how to place an order for Pasteurized Donor Human Milk or become an approved milk donor, please contact The Milk Bank at 317-536-1670 or visit themilkbank.org.
About Mercy
Mercy, one of the 15 largest U.S. health systems and named the top large system in the U.S. for excellent patient experience by NRC Health, serves millions annually with nationally recognized care and one of the nation’s largest and highest performing Accountable Care Organizations in quality and cost. Mercy is a highly integrated, multi-state health care system including 55 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, convenient and urgent care locations, imaging centers and pharmacies. Mercy has over 1,000 physician practice locations and outpatient facilities, more than 5,000 physicians and advanced practitioners and more than 50,000 caregivers serving patients and families across Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In fiscal year 2025 alone, Mercy provided more than half a billion dollars of free care and other community benefits, including traditional charity care and unreimbursed Medicaid.
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 improves health outcomes for premature and ill infants, fosters better health for children, and decreases health care expenditures. 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.
Review The Milk Bank’s press kit and for additional media inquiries, contact Lindsay McGuire, Assistant Director of Advancement – Branding & Outreach, at lmcguire@themilkbank.org or 317-536-1670 ext. 114.
