OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank Opens Milk Drop Site at The Little Gym of Highland Heights
OhioHealth Mothers' Milk Bank is thrilled to announce its collaboration with The Little Gym of Highland Heights to open a Milk Drop Site for Cuyahoga County. This life-saving initiative allows approved donor mothers to drop off frozen, pre-screened breastmilk, which is then distributed to NICUs and hospitals for babies in medical need across Ohio and beyond.
The OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank, under the guidelines of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), provides pasteurized human milk to those infants whose mothers are unable to provide milk to nourish their babies. It is one of just 33 milk banks in North America – 30 in the United States and three in Canada.
“This is a tremendous honor,” said Belinda Gest, owner of The Little Gym of Highland Heights. “Our mission has always been to support the health, growth, and development of children and families. Hosting a Milk Drop site is a natural and beautiful extension of who we are and what we believe in.”
According to Gest, since opening its doors a year ago, The Little Gym in Highland Heights has become a hub for families who believe in the power of movement, early development, and community connection. The addition of the Milk Drop site allows the gym to deepen its impact particularly for families with medically fragile babies by providing a safe, convenient location for local moms to share the gift of life through breastmilk donation.
"OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank, one of just a handful of nonprofit milk banks in the nation, rigorously screens, pasteurizes, and distributes donor breastmilk to hospitals where it can make a critical difference for preterm and ill infants. “We are proud to support OhioHealth’s extraordinary work,” Gest added. “This partnership gives our community a tangible way to contribute to infant health and healing, and we hope every family in the region feels empowered to get involved—whether through donation, spreading the word, or simply celebrating what’s possible when a community comes together.”
The milk bank, which is located in the OhioHealth Eastside Health Center in Columbus, relies on donations from healthy, lactating women who generously provide milk to help other babies. Interested donors are encouraged to email milkbank@ohiohealth.com or call (614) 566.0630 to arrange a screening phone interview. To become a human milk donor, mothers must take part in a screening process to ensure the quality and safety of the milk. This process includes a phone screening to verify eligibility, completion of a medical and lifestyle history review, a signed medical release from the donor and physician, and consent to receive a blood test to screen for HIV, HTLV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and syphilis. The donated milk is pasteurized, frozen, and distributed by physician's prescription.
