announced on Jan. 19 it is in urgent need of donated breast milk. "In efforts to meet the increasing demand for donor milk, coupled with a decline in milk donations, the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) and its member milk banks across the United States and Canada are urging healthy, lactating people to consider donating to their local milk bank today," according to a news release.
The HMBANA points to the ongoing pandemic, winter storms and short staffing for the depleted supply of breast milk which is essential to "saving the most vulnerable babies’ lives." People are encouraged to find a local milk bank and donate today.
FILE - A donor delivers breast milk to the women's milk bank. Shortages both in labor and supply have only become worse in the United States with the recent severe weather events and surge in cases of the omicron variant of COVID-19.
The shortages are widespread, impacting produce and meat as well as packaged goods such as cereal. And they’re being reported nationwide.