Salem community steps in to help during nationwide baby formula shortage

A nationwide shortage has left parents and caregivers searching for formula or breast milk to feed their babies — and those in the Salem area are not exempt from the bare grocery store shelves and delayed shipments faced by millions.

The crisis was triggered by the safety-related closure of Abbott Nutrition's formula-making plant in Michigan in February. Supplies dwindled and eventually led to federal intervention.

At one point in May,  43% of popular formula brands were sold out across the country. 

More:Why can't some infants breastfeed during the formula shortage? What health experts want you to know

On Mid-Willamette Valley Facebook groups, moms are pleading for leads on certain brands of formulas. Others are offering their own pumped breast milk or stashes of formula.

One woman wrote of needing cans of Neocate, a brand specially formulated for babies with certain allergies.

"We were expecting our delivery on Friday, but due to the nationwide shortage, it has been delayed," she said in the group. "It's supposed to be processed today, but I have no idea if we will actually receive it today. We have about one-third of a can left."

Others post pictures of grocery store shelves to alert those in need of what's available. Some offered to donate hundreds of ounces of extra breast milk.

Pediatricians have advised against informal or internet-sharing of breast milk, citing concerns over contamination or exposure to medications, but milk from regulated donor banks is an option for some parents.

Several nonprofits and public health agencies are also stepping in to help families feed their hungry babies.

Northwest Mothers Milk Bank, the only nonprofit human milk bank in the Pacific Northwest, reported a surge in people wanting to donate during the formula shortage.

"Our calls from moms interested in donating have increased in the last month by about 300%," said Joanne Ransom, the clinical director of the Northwest Mothers Milk Bank.

The organization accepts breast milk donations after donors pass health screenings and undergo blood tests.

They then pasteurize and test the milk at their Tigard facility before distributing it to hospitals and families in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska. They prioritize providing donated milk to vulnerable populations such as premature infants.

Studies have shown that human milk can be vital to keeping premature, low-birth infants healthy and help prevent deadly complications like necrotizing enterocolitis.

But despite trolls online urging people to "just breastfeed" to avoid the problems with the formula shortage, not every birthing person is physically, emotionally or financially able to breastfeed.

Donor milk first goes to hospitals but is available to parents and caregivers with a prescription for donor milk.

Ransom said there was about a 40% increase in hospital requests in the past month. Requests from parents have gone up as well.

"Our hearts hurt with the families that are struggling," she said. "We really want to help if we can. We are really just one small non-profit, but families can reach out to us with any questions."

With three times as many calls coming in, Ransom said she is touched by the sheer number of moms wanting to donate their time and hard-pumped milk to those in need.

"That's the silver lining ... that moms are realizing they can help and they can do something about this and they can help another family in their community," Ransom said.

More:Baby formula shortage hits low-income women, moms of color hardest. Can we fix things?

Sam Tenney, spokesman for Marion-Polk Food Share, said they are not actively sourcing or purchasing formula for their partner pantries due to the risk of compounding the shortage.

"Though baby formula is in high demand and our pantries do offer it when it’s made available through donations, most SNAP and WIC participants rely on grocery stores and other retailers for their formula," he said. "We don’t want to worsen the shortage by asking the community to donate formula."

Instead, the organization is following Oregon Health Authority and Women, Infants and Children program guidance to advise that parents and caregivers contact their pediatricians for recommended alternatives that may still be available.

People who receive their formula through WIC can use their WIC EBT benefits to purchase alternative formulas during the shortage.

"For community members that would like to help households with infants, we are encouraging that they donate other high-demand items like baby food, diapers, pull-ups and wipes," Tenney said.

Anybody that has unopened, unexpired formula that they don’t need, including formula samples sent in the mail, is encouraged to donate it either directly to the Food Share or to their local pantry.

How to help

Donations can be made at Food Share's office/warehouse at 1660 Salem Industrial Drive NE, dropped in a donation barrel at one of several Community Donation Partner sites or at their local pantry.

A list and map of partner pantries is available at marionpolkfoodshare.org/get-help.

Those wishing to donate or find out more about Northwest Mothers Milk Bank can visit online at donatemilk.org or call 503-469-0955.

Marion County WIC can be contacted at 503-588-5057 and online at co.marion.or.us/HLT/PH/WIC.

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth.