Our volunteers – an enormous difference made . . .
Turning a little into a lot? As a community supported non-profit that’s kind of our thing but we couldn’t do it without our volunteers. So today, in honor of National Volunteer Month, we’d like to take a moment to recognize them.
From the ten-year (and more!) veterans who haven’t missed an opportunity to help label bottles or wrangle that supply closet, to the hardworking nurse tackling her second Boston Marathon to raise awareness and increase funding for us, to our volunteer board and committee members, we know and appreciate just how hard our volunteers work.
Milk donors are our largest group of volunteers and we’re incredibly thankful for and inspired by their generosity. In the words of our Executive Director, Deborah Youngblood, “The gift of your milk, which also requires the gift of your time, energy, and compassion, never ceases to amaze us . . . ”
Sharing is caring – an eye-opening statistic . . .
Here at the milk bank, we want every little one to have the best start in life. With well documented benefits for all babies, we strive to make sure that any infant who needs human milk has access to it. As a limited medical resource, however, donor milk is prioritized for the most medically fragile babies – typically those being cared for in the NICU. Why? Because while optimal nutrition is fundamental for the growth and health of every baby, it is critical for premature and medically fragile infants.
A dynamic living fluid that is impossible to fully replicate, human milk contains antibodies, hormones, stem cells, white blood cells, probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes and so much more. Readily absorbed and tolerated, these nutrients reduce the frequency and severity of certain infections (which vulnerable infants with underdeveloped or compromised immune systems are especially susceptible to) and provide the support they need to thrive.
When high-risk babies receive their own mother’s or donor human milk, instead of formula, their risk of severe and/or potentially fatal debilitating medical conditions decreases by more than 75 percent. Simply put, donor milk saves newborn lives. Those who help us ensure the milk is safely distributed to babies who need it, save newborn lives.
Thank you . . .
Thank you to our milk donors and every single one of our volunteers for helping to ensure that babies in need get the safe nutrition they not only deserve but depend upon. There’s no way we could do this important work without you.
Becoming a milk donor? We make it as safe and simple as possible. Learn more here. Interested in volunteering? Please visit this page.
