It has been weeks since a major baby formula facility resumed production, and multiple shipments have been flown into the United States from overseas. However, many American families remain in crisis over not being able to find the type of formula their baby needs on the store shelves.
Thousands of families with babies seek help from food pantries, supply chain issues aside. The strain of the formula shortage that began in February adds another level of difficulty to parents' problems.
And even if some progress had been made in terms of production with Abbott restarting its plant in Michigan, families who care for babies with medical conditions still face another hurdle.
Baby formula shortage creating huge strain on families
Natasha Pernicka, the Executive Director of the Food Pantries for the Capital District, said that if their infants have special needs or allergies, people have a hard time finding those specific formulas at the stores they usually go to.
According to Pernicka, many families who qualify for assistance through the Capital Region USDA's Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs cannot go to several stores to check if they have the formula their baby needs. They also face a lack of support networks to help them search.
Pernicka told News 10 that it is creating a huge strain on families who don't have a lot of resources or time. The Food Pantries came together with some health care organizations, area nonprofits, and WIC to create the Capital Region Formula Task Force to help streamline the increase in requests from families for these specific formulas.
The task force encourages families to search online, call multiple stores, call their doctor or insurance company, and join social media groups that have been set up to locate formulas, along with several other options.
Read Also: President Biden Offers Solution to Baby Formula Shortage with 19th Operation Fly Formula Mission
Food pantries helping families in need
Pernicka wants families, who go through the process of trying to identify, and are still at a loss, to not give up in their search. She said that they could call the food access referral line. That same number can also be used by families if they need information about food and diapers and can help connect them to the nearest food pantry.
Food pantries like the one located at Trinity Alliance in Albany have small inventories of formula. If the families' need goes beyond just assistance finding it, and they cannot pay, the Food Pantries will provide it like they would with a typical pantry service.
Pernicka said they are hearing some families who do have resources are stockpiling specific formulas. She encourages them to share some with pantries if they are able. She said they would be grateful if these families would not mind helping them all out as they get through this challenging time.
