The Mother’s Milk Cooperative is shaking things up with the launch of the only paid milk

LANSING, Mich., May 10, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ — An innovative approach to milk banking becomes a reality this Mother’s Day as the Mother’s Milk Cooperative launches the only paid milk donor program in the United States. Dubbed, “Milk Money“, this program will offer nursing mothers the opportunity to earn money from home. “Too many women have no other choice but to return to work early after the birth of their babies. Whether Milk Money helps cover diaper expenses, a date night, or starts a college fund; for many young families a little extra money can go a long way,” says Adrianne Weir the Co-op’s CEO.

Two unique programs are set to formally launch on Mother’s Day. Co-op members will have the choice to participate in “Milk Money” or “Pay it Forward“. Pay It Forward is a program dedicated to providing donor milk at no cost for babies in need. A portion of the milk received is retained, processed and sold to fund this program.

The Co-op’s mission to increase the donor milk supply is in alignment with recommendations made in the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding, the US Health and Human Services AHRQ Evidence Report, and The Global Action Report on Preterm Birth recently released by The March of Dimes, Save the Children and The WHO. Breast milk is important for every baby but can mean the difference between life and death for premature infants. The co-op was formed to address the global shortage of donor breast milk critical for use in neonatal intensive care units. This shortage has resulted from the increased use of donor human milk for preterm babies driven by a growing body of medical evidence.

All milk donors will undergo stringent qualification steps including physician recommendations, blood screening, and milk quality and safety testing before the milk is professionally processed.

Cooperatives are unique because they are 100% owned and controlled by their voting members. As voting members of the Mother’s Milk Coop, qualified breast milk donors own stock in the co-op making it the first milk bank owned and democratically controlled by nursing mothers.

About The Mothers Milk Cooperative

The MMC is a grass-roots organization dedicated to improving access to donor breast milk and empowering nursing mothers. The Co-op is dedicated to making donor milk more accessible than ever before and strives to resolve the critical shortage of donor milk that is impacting the lives of premature and sick infants globally. The Mothers Milk Cooperative will begin accepting donor applications on Mother’s Day via their website www.mothersmilk.coop

Media Contact: Adrianne Weir Mothers Milk Cooperative, (517) 580-5887, aweir@mothersmilk.coop

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SOURCE The Mothers Milk Cooperative