After feeding her six‑month‑old son each morning, Quadra Island mother Freya Bellemare often had extra milk. When she learned about the new Donor Milk Collection Depot in Campbell River, she realized she had something meaningful to give. Bellemare heard about the depot from a public health nurse during her son’s immunization appointment.
Bellemare completed the screening process and became the first donor to the new Campbell River depot, which opened in fall 2025.
“I wasn’t aware that some babies rely on donated milk because they can’t have formula,” said Bellemare. “And there is always a need.”
Donor milk can be a life-saving measure, providing antibodies to fight disease and infection for premature babies and those born with medical conditions. Frozen milk donations are transported to the Provincial Milk Bank in Vancouver, where they are pasteurized and distributed to neonatal intensive care, maternity and pediatric units across B.C.
So far, Bellemare has donated 80 ounces or 2.4 litres, and the experience has been meaningful. “It’s rewarding. It feels good to be able to do it,” she said, hoping others will feel the same.
The first Donor Milk Collection Depot in the Island Health region opened in 2016 at Victoria General Hospital, followed by Nanaimo Regional General Hospital in 2019. Since then, donors at these two sites have provided 3,683 litres of milk to babies in need—enough to fill about 18 bathtubs.
Find out more info about donating breast milk visit Donor Milk Banks.
All pregnant people are encouraged to self-register for the free Right From the Start program, which provides public health nursing support from pregnancy into early parenthood.
Locate your nearest Public Health Unit online to learn about additional supports available.