COLUMBUS, Ohio — The OhioHealth Mothers' Milk Bank has opened a new milk drop location at Marion General. 

The site at 1000 McKinley Park Dr. in Marion will store donated human milk, which will then be transferred to the milk bank in Whitehall at no cost for donors, the hospital system said. 

“We are thrilled to be opening this new milk drop to make donating even easier,” said Chris Smith, outreach coordinator and lactation consultant at the milk bank, in a release. “With this new milk drop, approved donors around Marion and Delaware Counties have a convenient location to drop off their donated milk. Pasteurized donor milk is liquid gold for babies who need it. In 2023 alone we distributed over 460,000 ounces of milk in 11 states – that’s 3,593 gallons! Just one ounce can feed a premature infant for three days, so every little bit helps.” 

The OhioHealth Mothers' Milk Bank is just one of 33 milk banks in North America and provides pasteurized human milk to infants whose mothers can't provide milk. 

The Marion drop site is OhioHealth's 32nd location in Ohio, the hospital system said.

Donors who are interesting should email milkback@ohiohealth.com or call 614-566-0630 to schedule a phone screening interview. Those who wish to become a milk donor must take part in the screening process so officials can ensure the safety of the milk. The screening includes verifying eligibility, completing a medical and lifestyle history review, a signed medical release from the donor and physical, and a blood test to screen for HIV, Hepatitis B, syphilis and more. 

More information about can be found on OhioHealth's website.