“We just have to make sure they are not expired. “Lots of new moms will get free cans of formula through various promotions and end up bringing leftovers to the daycare,” says Ewen.

Local daycares, like the Early Learning Center, have also donated powder to Healthy Start. Healthy Start works with local pediatricians to get formula from representatives, and she keeps a stockpile of powder formula in her office if mothers need it. With state funding last year, we were able to purchase diapers for people who visit us on a daily basis.”Įwens says when it comes to formula, in particular, there hasn’t been a huge increase in need from her clients. “Since Covid began, we’ve seen a need not just for formula, but for other supplies like diapers and wipes.

“We serve many women in the Newtown community and many that are part of the Latinx community,” says Healthy Start executive director Shon Ewens. Local programs like Healthy Start Sarasota and the Sarasota County health department’s WIC program have stepped up. “Most of my patients are breastfed, so formula requests do not arise often,” she says.īut what about mothers who are unable to breastfeed due to a medical condition, or simply don’t want to-or mothers who don’t have health insurance and can’t visit a pediatrician for advice? Gulati says her office staff haven’t seen too many frantic parents. This helps ready-to-eat formula and specialty formula become available.” “We are also in close contact with formula vendors, to better meet demands and increase production. “We’ve worked closely with our supply chain to make certain that we have all the supply and product we need for the babies born here at Sarasota Memorial,” Graber said in a video update released by the hospital last week. The hospital is doing just fine on supply. And while the White House develops a plan to help baby formula become more accessible through programs like WIC-which provides resources for low-income women, infants, and children-how is the Sarasota community faring?Īccording to Sarasota Memorial Hospital neonatal ICU clinical manger Heather Graber and First Physicians Group pediatrician Rachna Gulati, formula has not been in high demand.

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