MILK DONOR GUIDE
Safe Donation. Lifesaving Impact.
Thank you for being a donor. Your extra breast milk is helping babies across the Southeast survive and thrive. Now that you are approved to donate, we want to equip you with resources to guide and assist you on your donor journey. We are so grateful for your support. You are helping save lives with each ounce donated.
Ensure the Safety of Your Breast Milk.
Milk donors must follow our pumping, cleaning and storage guidelines to ensure donated milk is safe, high quality and suitable for medically vulnerable infants. These standards reduce the risk of contamination and help preserve the nutritional and protective benefits of human milk.
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Properly Label Your Breast Milk
Each individual bag of breast milk should be labeled with the full date that the milk was pumped including the year. Milk should be stored in BPA FREE storage bags or containers intended for breast milk storage only. Place the individual bags in a larger bag (such as a Ziplock bag or grocery bag). Write your Last Name, Donor Number and Date of the oldest milk in that bag using permanent marker or seal a notecard with this information inside the bag.
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Donate Your Breast Milk
Schedule your donation drop-off at a Milk Drop Depot near you or request shipping supplies if you do not live near a depot. We kindly ask that your first donation be made within 21 days of approval.
Your initial donation must be at least 100 oz. (200 oz. if shipping). After your first donation, you may donate any amount.
All donated milk must be less than 8 months from the pump date at the time of donation. We accept milk pumped through your baby’s 2nd birthday.
When dropping off milk at a depot, please bring your cell phone to scan the depot QR code and complete a brief donation form.
How to Safely Transport Your Donations to a Milk Drop Depot
Breast milk intend for donations should be frozen from the time it is placed in your home freezer until it reaches the Milk Drop Depot freezer.
To help keep milk frozen during transport:
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Use an insulated cooler or thermal bag
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Pack milk tightly
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Use frozen ice packs during summer months or for longer driving distances
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Deliver milk directly to the depot
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Avoid leaving milk in a warm vehicle
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Report any thawing to the Milk Drop Depot Director
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Complete Your Required Monthly Health Form
Monthly health screenings, beginning the second month after donor approval, are required to ensure the ongoing safety and quality of donated milk. A donor’s health, medications, and lifestyle factors can change over time, and regular screening allows us to promptly identify any changes that could affect milk safety. If you become ill, are prescribed a new or change of medication, or are considering starting a new supplement, please complete a new health evaluation form immediately.
