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“Formula is food and our community needs to have a resource that helps support this niched need. We are excited to be able to launch the regions first formula bank. We plan to launch, learn, grow, and serve the babies in the burgh,” said Executive Director/Founder, Megs Yunn.
PITTSBURGH (PRWEB)
September 15, 2022
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Pittsburgh nonprofit, Beverly’s Birthdays has been supporting families with a necessary, life sustaining item-infant formula. The division, Beverly’s Babies, which celebrates the “birth”day supports a network of agency partners and their families throughout the Greater Pittsburgh region with resources to support them during the pregnancy and first year. These services include free community baby showers, newborn diaper care packages, a critical baby care item referral program, “A Year of Cheer” and most recently, the launch of the regions first infant formula bank.
“Beverly’s Babies programming supports over 3,000 babies annually. We are thrilled to be able to add another needed service offering for our families” says Beverly’s Babies Director, Darla Sherlock.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, by six months of age, 75% of all babies in the United States have consumed some type of baby formula. Breastfeeding is the preferred source of nutrition for infants, but there are many reasons why a parent may choose or not be able to breastfeed. Additionally, there are families that rely on formula as a supplement in supporting breastfeeding. Formula is an expensive item to begin with, and when you add supply chain challenges, product recalls, increased cost of goods, and food desserts, families are struggling, stressed, and in need of resources.
“I had no idea how I was going to feed my baby. Thank you so much for helping me.” – Supported Mom
Beverly’s Birthdays launched A Formula for Cheer: The Greater Pittsburgh Infant Formula Bank. This new service is in partnership with Hello Baby, Allegheny County DHS, and Allegheny County Family Centers.
The formula banks, which are managed by Beverly’s Babies, are in McKeesport Family Center, Homewood Family Center & Early Learning Hub, Hilltop Family Center, and Highlands Family Center. Additionally, Beverly’s Birthdays maintains the service out of their location in North Huntingdon.
Families are able to access baby formula if there is an emergency or crisis need. They can receive up to 12 standard cans (26.1 oz) per year and no more than 3 cans at any time.
“Three of my four children struggled with dietary challenges as babies, and I had to utilize formula to support their needs. One of my children required a specialty formula that insurance provided. I know how expensive formula is and even prior to the pandemic, families struggled to access it and afford it. Formula is food and our community needs to have a resource that helps support this niched need. We are excited to be able to launch the regions first formula bank. We plan to launch, learn, grow, and serve the babies in the burgh,” said Executive Director/Founder, Megs Yunn.
The Greater Pittsburgh Infant Formula Bank will focus on four core principles: Formula, Education, Engagement, and Distribution or F.E.E.D. The goal is to ensure that families have access to the formula they need, receive educational information on best practices for formula feeding as well as resources about breastfeeding, engage the community and public on how to donate and support the bank, and distribute the items not only at the centers, but the organization plans to host pop-up distribution events with their mobile Baby Boutique, a baby store on wheels.
The organization has worked with stakeholders, foundations, and corporate partners to help with the launch of this initiative.
To sustain The Greater Pittsburgh Formula Bank, the organization welcomes monetary and new, unexpired formula donations. If you have product to donate, you can contact the organization directly at 724-590-5106.
For more information about the program, visit http://www.beverlysbabies.org
ABOUT BEVERLY’S BIRTHDAYS:
Beverly’s Birthdays is a nonprofit 501c3 organization founded in 2012 by Megs Yunn. Beverly’s Birthdays provides birthday cheer and critical baby care items for children experiencing homelessness and families in-need. Beverly’s Birthdays currently partners with agencies across the Pittsburgh region to ensure that no child is forgotten on his/her special day. Beverly’s Birthdays celebrates over 30,000 children and families in the Pittsburgh area annually. For more information on Beverly’s Birthdays visit http://www.beverlysbirthdays.org.
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