Kentucky Blood Center, The Milk Bank Expand Parternship April 17, 2025

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Blood Center is expanding its partnership with The Milk Bank to include a seventh drop-off location for frozen breast milk.

Starting Thursday, April 17, KBC’s Frankfort Donor Center will accept donations of frozen breast milk from approved donors of The Milk Bank. KBC – the largest independent, full-service, nonprofit blood center in Kentucky – opened four milk depots in October 2021 at its two Lexington (Beaumont, Andover) and Louisville (Middletown, Hillview) donor centers. They added Milk Depots to the Somerset and Pikeville donor centers in April 2022. 

Donated milk is transported to The Milk Bank – a nonprofit milk bank improving health outcomes for premature and ill infants – to be pasteurized and distributed to NICUs and outpatient families, primarily in Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri. To get pre-screened or ask questions on eligibility, contact The Milk Bank at (317) 536-1670 or visit themilkbank.org/donate-milk.  

“Kentucky Blood Center loves supporting the work of The Milk Bank and we are happy to expand the partnership further,” said Mandy Brajuha, vice president of external relations at KBC. “Knowing how many milk donors have taken advantage of these convenient locations to help our most vulnerable neighbors is very rewarding for our team.”

Nearly a half million feedings have been provided by donations made at KBC’s Milk Depots since the partnership was launched in 2021. 

“The partnership between Kentucky Blood Center and The Milk Bank is saving infant lives,” said Freedom Kolb, CEO of The Milk Bank. “We are grateful for this expansion that will allow infants born too small, too sick or too soon to have their best chance at celebrating a first birthday. We are inspired by all the amazing milk donors accessing these drop-off sites to provide the gift of health and life.”

Approved milk donors can deliver frozen breast milk during normal operating hours at KBC’s seven donor centers. Donor center hours can be found on KBC's website.