Donated human milk is particularly important for babies in the neonatal intensive care unit whose mothers may be unable to breastfeed them.

The hospital will serve as a collection site for donors certified by The Milk Bank. After the milk is pasteurized, it will be distributed to hospitals and outpatient clinics .

The Milk Bank's old facility was almost too small for all of the equipment needed to fulfill donor requests.

The Indiana Department of Health and The Milk Bank have partnered to host donated breast milk drives across the state as the nationwide infant formula shortage continues.

The nationwide shortage of baby formula is also impacting Hoosier families. More than 40 percent of retailers across the country reported being out of formula stock during the first week of May.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hit marginalized families hard, Healthy Start and similar organizations that provide maternal and infant care are seeing a spike in calls.

Lactation and bereavement services are a part of the bank's mission to provide human breast milk to babies in need.