The New York Milk Bank has opened a center in Greenlawn to collect breast milk for distribution to infants around the state.
The organization has scheduled a ribbon cutting for noon Saturday at Rise to Wellness Chiropractic, 755 Pulaski Road.
A milk depot collects breast milk from donors and provides it to infants, many of them premature and with medical needs. Medical experts say breast milk is far superior to infant formula. The American Academy of Pediatrics says breast milk provides natural antibodies that help babies resist illnesses, such as ear infections.
Julie Bouchet-Horwitz, executive director of The New York Milk Bank, said, “We rely on our depots to reach out to their community to help raise awareness of the importance of donor milk. The use of donor milk is increasing steadily and NYMB is always looking for more donors. If you know someone who has extra breastmilk, please send her to NYMB!”
The Greenlawn depot is the Milk Bank’s third on Long Island.
“The commitment of Rise to Wellness Chiropractic extends beyond the walls of our practice and into our community, where we are excited to host the New York Milk Bank as their newest breast milk depot location,” said Dr. Diana Palamar, founder of Rise to Wellness Chiropractic.
Since 2016, NYMB says it has dispensed over 560,000 ounces of pasteurized donor human milk to over 30 hospitals and to hundreds of babies at home.