State College store giving free baby formula, taking donations

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WJAC) — The baby formula shortage has prompted communities across the country to take things into their own hands. One business in State College is doing just that, to help families.

This shortage has put an immense strain on families' finances and the well-being of their infants. Seeing this, the company Kid To Kid sought to help not only the families who shop at the store, but families all over the area.

"Last Saturday, we decided to start offering to be a safe and easy place for people to donate formula that they no longer need for families that are in need, to pick up," Sarah Parfitt, the manager of the children's store Kid To Kid, told 6 News on Thursday.

She said she wanted to make the process as straight-forward as possible for families.

"People are able to just come in, drop off the donation and then, other families that need it can come in and see what we have, see if we have the formula that they need, and then just pick it up for free," explained Parfitt.

"And as an incentive to those donating," she added, "we are also offering a $5 coupon that we pass on for the store, just as an incentive for them to donate."

Parfitt said formula's already flying off her shelves, and with such finite supplies, each family's limited to one can per day.

"We have seen quite a bit of formula and it's kind of going out as fast as it's coming in."

And there are ways you can help. Parfitt says if you have formula that you're no longer using and don't need, you can bring it into the Kid To Kid store on 154 Rolling Ridge Dr. in State College.

"We do take open cans, that are half-used. But we just label them as opened, so people know, if they're not comfortable with taking that."

She told us the reception's been outstanding, with many families grateful for the formula drive.

"We have people calling in to check every day to be like, 'Have you gotten this specific one?' They're absolutely thankful," said Parfitt.

"A lot of times they still think that they need to give us something. And we're like, 'No, no, this is just to help out our community. We just wanna do what we can, do our part.'"

If you want to learn more about Kid To Kid's formula drive, you can check out their Facebook page.

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