Kentucky Blood Center is expanding its partnership with The Milk Bank to include two additional drop-off locations for frozen breast milk.

Starting Monday, May 2, KBC’s Somerset and Pikeville donor centers will accept donations of frozen breast milk from approved donors. KBC – the largest independent, full-service, nonprofit blood center in Kentucky – opened four milk depots in October at its two Lexington (Beaumont, Andover) and Louisville (Middletown, Hillview) donor centers.

Donated milk is transported to The Milk Bank – a nonprofit improving health outcomes for premature and ill infants – to be pasteurized and distributed to NICUs and outpatient families, primarily in Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri. Ideal candidates for milk donors are non-smoking women in good general health. 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 is excited to work with The Milk Bank to expand this important operation in Central and Eastern Kentucky,” said Bill Reed, KBC president and CEO. “We have seen an incredible number register to donate to this important program in the first seven months of the partnership, and it made sense to make this opportunity available at all of our current donor centers.”

The number of approved milk donors in Kentucky has doubled since KBC opened its initial four drop-off locations in October.

“The partnership between Kentucky Blood Center and The Milk Bank is saving infant lives,” said Freedom Kolb, executive director 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 six donor centers, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 

Drop-off locations include:

Beaumont Donor Center                         Andover Donor Center

3121 Beaumont Centre Cir.                            3130 Maple Leaf Dr.

Lexington, KY 40513                                         Lexington, KY 40509

859.276.2534                                                   859.327.3223

Middletown Donor Center                     Hillview Donor Center

12905 Shelbyville Rd.                                      5406 Antle Dr.

Louisville, KY 40243                                          Louisville, KY 40229

502.290.0537                                                   502.915.0989

Pikeville Donor Center                            Somerset Donor Center

472 S. Mayo Trail                                              10 Stonegate Centre (Stoplight 16A)

Pikeville, KY 41501                                            Somerset, KY 42503

606.432.4979                                                   606.679.7413

For information on donating blood with KBC or to schedule an appointment, please visit kybloodcenter.org or call 800.775.2522.