*** PRESS RELEASE ***

San Francisco, CA – In recognition of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG), San Francisco’s Baby-Friendly certified safety net hospital and only Level 1 Trauma Center, will host a Milk Drive on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in partnership with Mother’s Milk Bank of San Jose; the first Milk Drive in San Francisco in more than 30 years.

“Hosting this Milk Drive at ZSFG is a testament to our commitment to health equity for all. The milk that is donated will not only benefit communities in the Bay Area, but across the nation. In particular, this Drive will provide milk to families who would otherwise not have access to human milk for their babies.” – Dr. Susan Ehrlich, CEO

“It is a proven fact that human chest milk provides much need nutrition to help babies develop and thrive. As a baby-friendly hospital, we are proud to partner with Mother’s Milk Bank to help collect this crucial resource to ensure families and babies in need get the care they deserve.” – Gillian Otway, CNO

The milk that will be collected is pasteurized for distribution to a baby and family in need. Breast/chest milk gives babies who are premature, born to gender-diverse parents, separated from their birth parent, have immunological deficiencies or need post-operation nutrition, the best possible chance at healthy growth and development from day one. Just two tablespoons of human milk could help a baby in need thrive. All birthing parents who have extra breast/chest milk to donate to a baby in need are encouraged to drop off their frozen milk on August 14th between 11 am to 2 p.m. via the main entrance on 23rd Street. A pickup table will be stationed on Dr. David Sanchez Way.

As standard practice, the frozen milk must be within nine months from the date of expression and labeled with the date and time. To make your drop-off quick and hassle-free, ensuring your donated breast milk can quickly help a premature baby thrive, streamline the breast milk donation process by completing a brief five-minute health screening by calling (877) 375-6645 *option 3 or visit: Mother’s Milk Bank website. Interested people can also sign up when they drop-off milk on August 14.

About Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center
Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (ZSFG), one component of the San Francisco Health Network (SFHN), is a licensed general acute care hospital, which is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco, Department of Public Health. ZSFG provides a full complement of inpatient, outpatient, emergency, skilled nursing, diagnostic, mental health and rehabilitation services for adults and children. It is the largest acute inpatient hospital for psychiatric patients in the city. Additionally, it is the only acute hospital in San Francisco that provides 24-hour psychiatric emergency services and the only Level 1 trauma center in San Francisco. ZSFG aims to provide patients with a better experience, a healthier community and a more efficient health care system, providing patients with timely, efficient, high quality, safe and effective care. We are also one of the nation’s top academic medical centers, partnering with the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy on clinical training and research. ZSFG serves about 100,000 patients per year and provides more than 20 percent of all inpatient care for San Francisco. We serve a diverse patient population providing services in more than 20 languages to our ethnically and racially diverse community.

About Mother’s Milk Bank
Mother’s Milk Bank is the oldest operating nonprofit milk bank in North America. They have helped set the industry standard for milk collection and donation. As a charter member of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), Mothers’ Milk Bank has helped set the industry standard for milk collection and donation. We remain committed to our legacy, and adhere to the highest levels of care, safety, and equity for those we serve: donors, recipients, families grieving the loss of a baby, hospitals, community partners, and healthcare professionals. Mothers’ Milk Bank serves babies, families, and healthcare providers across the United States. Though most of our recipients are premature infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), we provide safe, pasteurized human donor milk for families in need.

###

Media Desk
Department of Public Health Communications
City and County of San Francisco
Twitter: @SF_DPH
Facebook: @sfpublichealth