‘They shouldn’t have to go hungry.’ How KY moms are banding together in formula shortage
McKenzie Dowell didn’t know where her babies’ next meal was coming from.
Because her 1-year-old twins have a severe milk allergy, Dowell said they are only able to use a specific hypoallergenic formula — one that is now virtually impossible to find in stores in her home of Stanford, Kentucky.
“I was frantic because I could not find any (formula), and we were out,” she said.
Dowell’s story reflects that of many others who are impacted by the formula shortage. The scarcity is a result of the February 17 voluntary recall of Abbot Nutrition products, the largest manufacturer of infant formula in the U.S.
Store shelves are still sparse, but Kentucky mothers are banding together to help each other feed their children.
Support through socials
After stumbling upon a pallet of formula cans one night at Walmart, Dowell said she and her mother, Jennifer Hinds, were inspired to start a Facebook group dedicated to helping moms find formula.
“My mom and I were thinking, ‘What are we gonna do? What can we do to help these other women find formula?’” Dowell said. “We’re like, ‘Well, what if we started a Facebook group, and every single time we’re at the store we just posted, and we encourage other women to post every single time they’re at the store?’”
Created on March 13, the group, “Central Kentucky Formula finder,” now has 69 members who post pictures of store shelves with the time and location so moms can find formula. Those looking for a specific brand or type can also post to set up a formula swap.
Others are also turning to Facebook to offer help. Lexington mom Taylor Perkins said while the formula shortage has not directly affected her, as she exclusively breastfeeds her daughter, she still wants to do her part.
On the “Ladies of Lexington” Facebook group, Perkins posted that she had a reserve of frozen breast milk to donate to those in need, resulting in an outpouring of supportive responses from others in the group.
Perkins said she was inspired to donate her freezer milk after hearing how other moms were having a hard time feeding their babies, something she said “breaks her heart.”
“I just kept reading stories on the news and seeing moms on Facebook that were desperately searching for milk anywhere ... and just seeing the empty shelves, and it just made me so sad for the moms that were struggling to find food for their babies,” she said. “They shouldn’t have to go hungry because there’s not formula around.”
Perkins said she donated over 300 ounces of frozen breast milk and plans to build up her supply again to give to other moms in need.
Another Lexington mom, Samantha Buckner, also offered her breast milk via Facebook.
Buckner posted a photo of freezer bags filled with frozen milk, commenting, “It’s heartbreaking seeing moms struggle to find milk due to the formula shortage. I want to help by donating some of my breast milk to those that truly need it!”
Since her 9-month-old daughter breastfeeds, Buckner said she has not been affected by the shortage. Her freezer milk stash was built up over months of pumping, and though she was sad to let go of the 1,000 ounces of milk, she said donating was the right thing to do.
“Just seeing the panic that they had and just how worried they were with when they are going to find milk for their baby next, it just broke my heart,” Buckner said. “So I decided to let go of my stash even though I’m so proud of it, and it was horrible. But I knew that I can breastfeed my baby and not have to worry about it, and these moms cannot find milk for their babies.”
Rachael Potts, a Lexington lactation counselor and mom of three, says that while donor milk via peer-to-peer donation is a safe option for families, they should feel comfortable asking questions about the donor’s health and lifestyle to determine if the milk is the best fit for their child.
“I would recommend asking the person that they’re taking a donation from for any dietary concerns, or if they’re on medications, or if they are a smoker, or, you know, alcohol,” Potts said. “But as long as the person is healthy, and they don’t have things in their daily routine that could potentially harm an infant, it should be safe.”
‘Every Scoop Counts’
Inspired by a donation initiative in Bowling Green, Potts also is helping other mothers find formula. The initiative, “Every Scoop Counts,” places drop-off bins in local businesses around Kentucky where community members can donate formula.
Potts said the donation campaign is only a week old, but they have already seen a “decent amount” of formula donations.
“People will kind of look through their pantries, and they’ll find samples of things that they never used ... and then they decide to donate those,” she said.
Thus far, there are six drop-off locations in Richmond (Richmond Smile Design, LaFontaine Early Learning Center, New Beginnings Pediatric Therapy, Unbridled Spirit Healing Center, Dentistry for Children and Marshall Pediatric Therapy), two in Berea (The Mother Well Doula and Nightingale Behavioral Health) and one on the way in Lexington at Patriot One Primary Care.
Potts cautions parents against do-it-yourself formula recipes, as they can be potentially harmful.
“It’s just not nutritionally sound, and if you don’t know what you’re doing as far as making formula, it can be very dangerous,” she said. “There’s also babies who have been hospitalized ... because folks are watering down the formula they do have, which essentially means they’re using less scoops to water, and that’s also very dangerous.”
How to help
Potts and Dowell agreed: donating is the best way to aid moms in need.
Whether it be cans of formula or bags of breast milk, those in the community can give what they have and support those impacted by the shortage.
They also said social media can be a useful tool for helping families find resources. In her Facebook group, Dowell encourages members to post whenever they go to a store that has formula, including a timestamp and photo of the shelves so moms can see what is available and potentially save them hours of searching.
Potts said that for those who do not personally need formula, posting a photo is better than buying or stockpiling cans.
“If you’re not a formula-feeding parent, or if you don’t have a use for (cans of formula) — if you’re not specifically picking them up for someone, don’t just go buy them because people are out looking for them,” Potts said.
She added that community members can use the resources they have at their disposal to offer help, such as checking church pantries and donation centers for formula and connecting someone in need with a lactation specialist.
Buckner said that her experience donating breast milk was a positive one, and she was amazed at the show of support and thanks she received.
“It’s just so heartwarming, seeing how supportive people are over me donating my milk and stuff, and I love it — it feels so good,” Buckner said. “That was the main point: just to help somebody, because I know how bad they’re struggling.”