Hancock Health, a designated Baby-Friendly hospital, recently celebrated one year as a Milk Bank Express Site in partnership with The Milk Bank, expanding access to lifesaving human donor milk for families across east-central Indiana.
Since becoming a Milk Bank Depot, Hancock Health has dispensed more than 320 ounces of donor milk to 11 families. Any parent who wants to purchase milk can do so through The Milk Bank and pick it up at the hospital.
In addition to the express site, Hancock Health is a donor milk depot. Any approved donor for The Milk Bank can drop off their breast milk at the hospital where it is stored in a freezer until picked up by The Milk Bank to be processed at their facility. In 2025, The Milk Bank celebrated a milestone of one million ounces collected nationally, and one of our local donors, Haley, was the one to donate the millionth ounce at the Hancock Health Milk Bank Depot. Often called “liquid gold,” the donated milk helps ensure vulnerable infants receive critical nutrition when they need it most.
The one-year anniversary celebration of serving as an Express Site at Hancock Regional Hospital highlighted the impact the program has had on local families, particularly those with premature or medically fragile babies.
“One of our patients who delivered pre-term was so relieved when she found out she could purchase donor milk through our Express Site program,” said Katrina Leary, a lactation consultant at Andis Women’s and Children’s Department. “Because the baby was born preterm and the mother’s milk had not fully come in, supplementation was required. The donor milk bridged that gap and she said that it really helped ease her anxiety.”
“Human milk is more than nutrition – it’s medicine,” said Freedom Kolb, CEO of The Milk Bank. “For our smallest and sickest patients, access to pasteurized donor milk can mean better digestion, faster growth, and improved outcomes. We’re proud to make that access easier for families right here in Hancock County.”
As an Express Site, Hancock Health allows families to conveniently pick up their Milk Bank orders of pasteurized donor human milk locally, reducing barriers during an already stressful time.
Donor milk is especially critical for infants in Hancock Health’s Level II Nursery, supported through its partnership with Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital. For these babies, donor milk can significantly reduce complications and support healthier development.
In addition, longer durations of exclusive breastfeeding are associated with significant maternal health benefits. When supplementation is necessary, donor human milk can help sustain breastfeeding, leading to reduced risks of breast and ovarian cancer, osteoporosis, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, along with improved maternal mental health.
All donated milk is rigorously screened, pasteurized, and distributed according to strict safety standards established by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America.
Along with expanding access to donor milk, Hancock Health continues to support new mothers through its Baby-Friendly designation, offering lactation support, education, and resources to help families build strong starts for their babies.
“Every ounce donated can make a difference,” said Steve Long, CEO of Hancock Health. “This is a powerful way for families to support one another and ensure every baby has the healthiest possible start.”
For more information on how to place an order for Pasteurized Donor Human Milk or become an approved milk donor, please contact The Milk Bank at 317-536-1670 or visit themilkbank.org.