Click here to watch the recording of Mothers' Milk Bank of Tennessee's Annual Meeting.
Franklin, TN – Mothers’ Milk Bank of Tennessee held its Annual Meeting on Monday, March 25, 2024, at 7 p.m. at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs. Mothers’ Milk Bank of Tennessee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit milk bank dedicated to providing safe, pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) to the most vulnerable babies. At the event, the organization celebrated its 307 milk donors and 16 collection sites that powered the nonprofit to dispense 249,053 feedings of PDHM to 16 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across Tennessee in 2023.
Three strategic partners that serve as collection sites for approved donors to drop off their breast milk donations received awards based on the number of total ounces collected in 2023. Shults Pediatrics received the first place Milk Drop Depot Award. As a collection site for Mothers’ Milk Bank of Tennessee, the pediatric clinic in Knoxville, TN collected over 34,500 ounces of donor breast milk.
“We are proud partners and are going to look at ways we can offer additional support. As a NICU mom myself, it is really great to see all of these moms come together and want to give back by donating their breast milk, said Milk Drop Depot Director at Shults Pediatrics, Mary Thompson.
Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown in Nashville, TN was recognized as the second place Milk Drop Depot with over 31,000 ounces of donor breast milk collected. The Children’s Hospital at Erlanger in Chattanooga, TN received the third place award for collecting over 27,000 ounces of donor breast milk.
Brister and Helen Scott of Germantown, TN, and Bruce and Susan Campbell of Murfreesboro, TN, were recognized for their leadership as founders of Mothers’ Milk Bank of Tennessee. Thom Scott of Murfreesboro, TN received the Volunteer of the Year Award.
Milk donor, Julie Smith of Lebanon, TN shared her story with the audience about her journey to becoming a milk donor. She first learned about Mothers’ Milk Bank of Tennessee when her daughter Ella Mea was born premature at Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital. Ella received donor milk while Julie recovered from a cesarean section.
“I knew I wanted to donate to help other families like we have been blessed,” said Smith.
Human milk has been proven to decrease the incidence of life-threatening newborn infections. An estimated 60% of moms with babies in the NICU are not able to produce enough milk for their baby. Mothers’ Milk Bank of Tennessee’s purpose is to increase access to human milk to medically fragile infants who would not otherwise have access to human milk.
Mothers’ Milk Bank of Tennessee is the state’s only nonprofit milk bank. The organization screens prospective donors before accepting their breast milk donations. Mothers’ Milk Bank of Tennessee filters, mixes, bottles, pasteurizes and cultures donated breast milk from approved donors before distributing the donor milk to NICUs in Tennessee.
Currently, one in nine babies are born preterm in Tennessee.
“Our donors, volunteers and supporters are improving outcomes for preterm and critical infants in Tennessee. It was such an honor to celebrate these individuals at our Annual Meeting. Everyone can play an important role in helping Tennessee babies survive and thrive,” said Executive Director, Susan Campbell, MD, IBCLC.
Julie, Dalton and Ella Mae Smith