Bronson Mothers’ Milk Bank 20th Anniversary Impact Report

 "Every ounce matters. Every donor changes a life."

-Lindsay Starks, Mothers’ Milk Bank Manager

A Message of Gratitude

Twenty years ago, a vision was born alongside the most vulnerable of patients — premature and medically fragile infants fighting for their lives in the Bronson NICU. That vision was simple but profound: what if we could give every baby the best possible start, even when their mother's milk wasn't available?

This year, as Bronson Mothers’ Milk Bank celebrates 20 years, we reflect on what that vision has become. The Milk Bank has become a lifesaving, community-powered resource that has touched thousands of families across Michigan and far beyond. The Bronson Mothers' Milk Bank stands as a testament to the power of generosity, science and an unwavering commitment to the most fragile members of our community.

20 Years of Impact: The Numbers That Tell the Story

Over the course of two decades, the cumulative impact of the Bronson Mothers' Milk Bank is nothing short of remarkable.

Cumulative Totals (2006 – February 1, 2026)

These numbers grow every single day as milk is received, processed and delivered to babies in need.

In 2025 alone, the milk bank received more donor milk than in any previous year.

This is a powerful reflection of growing community trust, expanding access and deepening awareness of why donor milk matters.

Cumulative Totals (2025)

Caring for Our Own Community

Bronson Internal Use (2025)

Internally, Bronson's own patients across the neonatal intensive care unit, Mother-Baby Unit, Pediatrics and Pediatric ICU received 39,238 ounces of donor milk, representing $187,382 in donor milk value.

From its origins as a resource serving only Bronson's own NICU, the milk bank has grown steadily to reduce barriers and serve a broader population of families and health care providers.

Expanding Access Across Michigan

2019: The milk bank launched a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services grant program to provide donor milk for infants born to mothers living with HIV. The program initially supported babies up to age two and was later refined to serve infants within the first year of life in order to reach more babies.

2023: The milk bank held its first bereavement ceremony, creating a dedicated space to honor and recognize families who donated milk in memory of a baby they had lost.

2024: The milk bank opened its first donor milk drop-off depots in Portage and Battle Creek, allowing approved donors to contribute locally rather than shipping milk or traveling to the hospital. The expansion received regional media coverage from outlets including WOOD TV and WZZM13.

2025: Depot access expanded into Kent County through two Corewell Health locations in the Grand Rapids area, bringing the milk bank's reach deeper into West Michigan.

2026: Plans are actively underway to expand depot locations further across Michigan, with the goal of removing geographic barriers for donors statewide.

Community and Philanthropic Support

The milk bank's ability to screen donors, pasteurize milk and distribute it to families in need depends on philanthropic support from individuals, organizations and grant programs. In 2025, financial contributions enabled tens of thousands of additional ounces to reach babies who needed them most.

2025 Funding Summary

National Reach

The impact of the Bronson Mothers' Milk Bank extends well beyond Michigan's borders. In 2025, the organization distributed 72,172 ounces of donor milk nationally, reaching families and health care providers across 14 states. Of that total, 28,304 ounces went directly to families, while 43,868 ounces supported hospitals and partner milk banks.

A Vision for Growth

The Bronson Mothers' Milk Bank currently operates in approximately 900 square feet, a space shared with the Bronson NICU nutrition room. While the milk bank's team has consistently maximized this space through careful coordination and operational efficiency, the constraints present ongoing challenges, including limited room for pasteurization and storage equipment, restricted capacity to expand staffing and wayfinding difficulties for donors navigating to a basement location.

A dedicated, appropriately-sized facility would allow the milk bank to increase pasteurization capacity, improve the donor experience, expand operational hours and respond more quickly to the growing demand for donor milk across Michigan and its national partner network.

"The story of the Bronson Mothers' Milk Bank is one of community, compassion and an unwavering commitment to the most vulnerable patients among us," said Lindsay Starks, Bronson Mothers’ Milk Bank Manager, "What began as an effort to protect babies in our own NICU has grown into a resource that touches lives across Michigan and across the country. As we mark 20 years, we are proud of what this community has built, and we are committed to growing our capacity to serve even more families in the years ahead."

About Bronson Mothers' Milk Bank

The Bronson Mothers' Milk Bank, located at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is a nonprofit donor milk bank serving premature and medically vulnerable infants across Michigan and the United States. Founded in 2006, the milk bank screens donors, pasteurizes donated breast milk and distributes it to families, hospitals and partner milk banks. For more information or to learn about becoming a donor, visit the website below or call (269) 341-6146.

Learn More About Bronson Mothers' Milk Bank