Grand Forks Public Health Opens Milk Depot To Give Back To The Community

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR) — Grand Forks Public Health opens the Greater Grand Forks Milk Depot.

The depot is a location for pre-screened mothers to drop off their breast milk donations.

The milk is then sent off to a Colorado-based facility to be pasteurizes, tested and analyzed before distribution to babies staying in hospital NICUs.

The donated milk helps babies who have a weakened immune system or special dietary needs.

“It really reduces their risk of infection, you know, to get breast milk, donor milk. It helps that, promote that healthy gut development and so their microbiomes are healthier and really for those babies that are born too soon this is the best thing for them to get,” said Mandy Burbank, Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Lactation Counselor.

One donor says it’s exciting to know that the extra milk that she doesn’t have the freezer space for is going to a good use and helping babies grow.

Visit the Grand Forks Public Health website for more information on the depot and how to apply to be a breastmilk donor.