PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lindsay McGuire
Assistant Director of Advancement – Branding & Outreach, The Milk Bank
Lmcguire@themilkbank.org
317-536-1670
The Milk Bank Celebrates 1 Million Ounces of Breast Milk Donated in 2025
Historic milestone comes amidst a 25% increase year-over-year in demand for lifesaving pasteurized donor human milk.
INDIANAPOLIS December 2, 2025 – The Milk Bank is celebrating a monumental milestone: one million ounces of breast milk donated in 2025. Donated milk provides a lifeline for infants born too sick, too soon, or too small.
“There couldn’t be a better time to hit this amazing milestone,” said Freedom Kolb, CEO of The Milk Bank. “We’ve seen one of the highest demand increases in our 20-year history, with an unprecedented 25% surge in demand in 2025 alone. As we continue to see the need for safe donor milk grow, we’re grateful to our milk donors for ensuring we’re able to continue nourishing the most fragile infants.”
The one millionth ounce was donated by Haley, a milk donor from Indiana. Haley shared her milk donation inspiration, “I wanted to give it to the little ones in need in our area so that they would have the very best chance at the start of life just as I want for my daughter with serious heart complications. My daughter’s health journey meant she was not able to use all that I produced so I am happy to donate the rest. It’s wonderful to know so many babies will benefit from the milk I’ve donated.”
Milk Donors like Haley are supported by more than 80 regional Milk Depot locations across Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri where approved milk donors can conveniently drop off donations. There is also a direct ship option at no cost to milk donors.
The one millionth ounce was donated by Haley at The Milk Bank’s Milk Depot located at
Hancock Regional Hospital in Greenfield, IN. The Hancock Regional Hospital opened its Milk Depot in partnership with The Milk Bank in 2018.
“We are proud to be a part of this lifesaving work,” said Katrina Leary, Milk Depot Leader and Lactation Consultant at Hancock Regional Hospital “Every donation of milk is special, but it’s truly an honor to be part of history with this extraordinary donation.”
Those interested in becoming a milk donor can start the process by visiting themilkbank.org/donate-milk or by contacting The Milk Bank at (317) 536-1670.
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 infants in need. 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 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 our 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.
To learn more about how The Milk Bank can serve infants in your community or to support The Milk Bank, visit themilkbank.org.
