LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The need for safe infant feeding in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene is dire. One Kentucky organization is accepting donations to assemble safe infant feeding kits for those impacted by the storm.

Kentuckiana Lactation Improvement Coalition President Rebekah Scroggy says after disasters like Helene, safe ways to feed infants aren’t often thought about.

“If you think about it, to have safe feeding for your baby, you have to have safe water. If you don’t have safe water, you can’t feed your baby safely. And that makes it a higher risk for babies to get like G.I. track issues, like vomiting, diarrhea,” Scroggy explained.

Scroggy says many infants and toddlers are becoming sick or dying of gastrointestinal symptoms because of unsafe feeding practices. That is why Kentuckiana Lactation Improvement Coalition is partnering with the North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition to create safe infant feeding kits of bleach, soap, bottle brush and hand sanitizer.

“Other part to it is the syringe, spoon and some Dixie cups that we use to provide safe ways to feed your baby if you need to,” said Scroggy.

Scroggy says a video she posted on social media that went viral brought a lot of awareness to the need. 

“From the Amazon donations alone, we had enough for 25 boxes, which is just amazing. And then we had so many people that just out poured — and money — that we were able to create enough for 200 feeding kits. So 100 kits have already been deposited in western North Carolina,” said Scroggy.

Scroggy says at this point they are worried about the people that are in the mountains that don’t have access to services and may still have difficulty getting around.

“The roads are completely destroyed. Eastern Tennessee is the same thing. They have a lot of that is still destroyed and they still don’t have running water. Babies depend on us to keep them safe. And so that’s what these kits are supposed to do, is to help their families keep them safe,” said Scroggy.

Included in the kits is a handout from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in both English and Spanish with information and education on how to pump if you don’t have electricity, how to prepare formula safely during an emergency and more.

“This was a tangible way for us to help, even if we can’t be on the ground, we can provide the resources to help alleviate some of the stress and those who are on the ground help you be a parent in such a traumatizing time,” Scroggy shared.

Scroggy says it doesn’t take much to make a big impact. There are drop off locations in Louisville and Lexington, as well as an Amazon wish list, and all donations will be directly used for the victims of Hurricane Helene.

Here are the two drop off locations:

Jeffersontown Sojourn for Louisville drop off, 11412 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, Ky., 40299

Lactation Care with Elizabeth for Lexington drop off, 109 Dennis Dr Lexington, Ky.,  40503