Once again, just as in pandemic and even pre-pandemic days,
Baltimore’s community organizations, businesses, and individuals came together;
this time to tackle the baby formula needs of the community. Everyone
collaborated to ensure infants were fed and parents’ minds were at ease knowing
they would not have to suffer the consequences of the nationwide shortage
crisis.
Just for some background, in September 2021, an infant in
Minnesota became ill with a potentially lethal bacteria after consuming baby
formula manufactured at the Abbot plant in Michigan. Shortly after, several
more infants fell sick, and, tragically, two infants died from infection. The infections
were under investigation, and after an FDA inspection of the Abbot facility in
February, there was a recall on several batches of formula. Then the factory
ceased production.
With 75% of babies in the US consuming formula by the time
they are six months, the baby formula shortage quickly became a critical
widespread issue. While the shortage did actually exist, national media hyped
the situation, causing increased panic. Images of empty and ransacked store
shelves left mothers alarmed and overly concerned. Worrying they would not be
able to feed their infants, they ran out and stocked up on formula, which then
just added to the shortage. Fortunately, our local chesed machines in town, such as The Chesed Fund & Project
Ezra, Ahavas Yisrael, Bikur Cholim, Gevuras Yarden (JCN), and Chai Lifeline
jumped in to remedy the situation.
“The coordination was a streamlined and seamless process, and
there were no hiccups (pun intended),” said Frank Storch of The Chesed Fund
& Project Ezra. Mrs. Stacy Bendet, an incredibly talented chesed treasure in our community, who,
among other endeavors, has managed Ahavas Yisrael’s diaper program for several
years, managed the hundreds of calls, texts, and emails, and was a lifesaver,
literally. Market Maven and Seven Mile Market also went above and beyond to
work with vendors and the community to ensure there is enough supply for the
surge in demand.”
The effects of the shortage started to hit the community on
Wednesday, May 9, when supplies started dwindling. By Friday, May 11, it became
a genuine and significant issue. Stacy met with Ari Schwartz at Market Maven
and Yehuda Nelkin at Seven Mile Market, and together with other devoted staff
members, they reviewed inventory, vendors, and formula availability. “The
stores jumped in and tracked down whatever vendors they could find to triple
their supply, and it was a good thing they did,” said Frank, “because by
Tuesday, May 14, with the rush of desperate mothers trying to find formula
anywhere, prices had started to increase.”
Seven Mile Market chose to concentrate on supplying the more
standard formulas, while Market Maven focused on providing the more specialized
or medical-type formulas. Stacy said, “The next phase was ensuring that anyone
who needed formula knew how to get it. There were mothers literally driving in
circles. They would put their kids in the car and go from one store to the next
looking for their usual formula and not finding it. Then they would call their
pediatricians full of anxiety not knowing what to feed their babies.
Pediatricians would recommend other brands or types of formula, and then off
the mothers would go again hoping to find the new recommended formula. Unfortunately,
they couldn’t find that either. We set up a hotline so that mothers could call,
vent, and inform us of what formula they needed. We then directed them to the
correct resources. My goal was to counterattack the hysteria the media had
created by offering real solutions to these stressed-out mothers.”
Another integral aspect of the crisis is that for parents who
use governmental programs, such as WIC or medical assistance, to cover the high
cost of formula, if they could not find the specific formulas permitted by
these programs, they did not know how they would be able to afford it. Ahavas
Yisrael worked with these mothers and helped them figure out a budget to make
sure the funds were available. Since a box of diapers costs approximately the
same as a container of formula, Ahavas Yisrael provided additional free diapers
so the parents could then use those funds to buy the formula they needed. In
response to the shortage, WIC has now loosened its regulations to allow parents
to purchase whatever formula they need.
“We are a very, very privileged community,” said Stacy. “From
the beginning of the process, before any purchasing of formula was done, two of
our local pediatricians stepped in and guided us by providing advice on what
formulas would be the most versatile and could meet the needs of most infants.
Both supermarkets are sensitive to the communities needs and committed to
keeping pricing on the formula down as much as possible. Whatever increase in
cost there is nowadays is due to the direct increase from vendors and
additional trucking expenses. Bikur Cholim, Gevuras Yarden (JCN), and Chai
Lifeline were also able to provide the parents and people they help – from
infants with medical issues or feeding tubes to adults who use formula as
nutritional supplements – the peace of mind and reassurance that all their
formula needs would be met.
The Chesed Fund & Project Ezra bridged the gap,
purchasing the formula needed to be able to maintain adequate supplies in both
stores. AMF Creations created ads, and Baltimore Jewish Life helped spread the
word. Local schools and businesses became drop-off destinations for community
members who had formula to donate. B’Dazzle, Hats to Hose, Bais Yaakov, Bnos
Yisrael, Cheder Chabad, Ohr Chadash, TA, and TI were all happy to help. Yeshiva
boys from Kesser Torah helped unload boxes. Women in the community – including
some women who were already involved in formula gemachs – and volunteers all worked together to sort through the
various donations. It’s unbelievable and beautiful what we can pull off as a
community when we work together!” Stacy said.
Formula was also made available to people in other cities and
states, such as Silver Spring, Philadelphia, Virginia, New York, and even
Nevada. The Chesed Fund & Project Ezra and Stacy are now reaching out to
organizations and businesses nationwide to help them set up similar coordinated
efforts to ensure that their communities are also able to obtain formula during
this shortage.
At this point, for anyone in need of formula, Market Maven
and Seven Mile Market are fully stocked. For any special circumstances or requests,
please contact Stacy Bendet via phone, text, or Whatsapp at 410-215-4227, Frank
Storch at 410-340-1000, or send an email to info@chesedfund.com.
