A Health Secretary, a Senator, and a Representative Walk Into a Milk Bank…

What do we think is the best way to commemorate World Breastfeeding Month?

With a trip to the Mid-Atlantic Mother’s Milk Bank, of course!

In celebration of World Breastfeeding Month, Acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen, Senator Jay Costa, and Representative Dan Frankel came together to tour the Milk Bank. They were joined by Dannai Wilson of the Allegheny County Health Department, and documented by our own DCS Social Media Strategist Darya Kharabi.

The tour began with a warm welcome by Denise O’Connor, Executive Director of the Milk Bank, who shared insights into MAMMB’s mission and the amazing impact they’ve had on families not only in Pennsylvania, but also in New Jersey, Ohio, West Virginia and New York. The attendees also got a glimpse at the advanced equipment and processes used to prepare and store the lifesaving donor milk.

Perhaps one of the most moving moments of the tour happened when the attendees stopped at the Bereavement Wall, a heartfelt tribute to families who have lost their infants. The wall, featuring mementos and handwritten messages, reminded all of the importance of the Milk Bank’s work and the generosity of mothers who have chosen to give the gift of breast milk to another family, even in the face of unimaginable loss. The group spent extended time there, reflecting and connecting the struggles endured by these families with their own.

The event concluded with a short live stream from the Human Milk Science Institute & Biobank. Dr. Bogen – who actually helped co-found MAMMB and formerly served as its volunteer medical director – expressed her gratitude for the tour and for her time there, emphasizing the importance of the Milk Bank’s services. Senator Costa echoed her sentiment, recognizing the diversity of organizations that work together to get donor milk to sick babies, and even mentioning his connection to the issue with his two new grandchildren. Representative Frankel also joined in, pledging his support for the existing legislation and highlighting the fact that access to donor milk is a bipartisan issue. 

We’re so pleased to have supported this visit with PA policymakers at the Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank! After all,what better way to underscore the importance of getting donor milk to the infants that need it in order to #ProtectSickBabies?