Fridays 10:00am - 11:00am (EDT)
EPISODE SUMMARY:
Most people have never heard of a human milk bank. This is an opportunity to learn about a source of nutrition that just about everyone has experienced, but knows little about. Human milk is more than a source of nutrition, it is a medicine for premature infants who will not only survive but thrive if provided with human milk during their earliest days of life.
Linda Harelick, MBA, DrPH, has a deep-rooted interest in social impact, shaped by her early experiences as a registered dietitian, which exposed her to the intricate interplay of environmental, cultural, and societal factors on individual potential. Seeking a shift into management, she pursued an MBA from Columbia Business School, a stepping stone to her role at Kraft Foods. Here, she managed strategic planning and marketing for renowned brands like Maxwell House Coffee and Post Cereal, culminating in leadership of Global Consumer Services. Eager to reconnect with health promotion, she attained a doctorate in public health from New York Medical College, propelling her to become Director of Operations and Communications at ChildObesity180 at Tufts University.
In this capacity, Linda harnessed her managerial acumen and public health expertise to propel a startup nonprofit into a prominent entity in the fight against childhood obesity. Displaying an unwavering commitment to child and family well-being, she joined Harlem Children’s Zone, entrusted with extending the successful Healthy Harlem initiative nationwide.
Presently, as Executive Director of the New York Milk Bank, Linda enthusiastically spearheads the provision of pasteurized donor human milk to preterm infants and medically fragile babies, furthering her mission to enhance the health outcomes of the most vulnerable.
Name of your organization:The New York Milk Bank
Website: www.nymilkbank.org
Facebook: @nymilkbank
Instagram : @nymilkbank
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-new-york-milk-bank
#breastfeedingisbeautiful #breastfeedingsupport #BreastfeedingLife
Tune in for this sensible conversation at TalkRadio.nyc
Tommy D presents his esteemed guest, Linda Harelick, the Chief Executive Officer of the New York Milk Bank, in a continuation of the previous week's episode. With a gracious introduction, Tommy D highlights Linda's notable credentials. Linda proceeds to offer insights into her professional journey, tracing her path to her current role as CEO.
Linda initiates the discourse by providing an overview of the foundational establishment of the milk bank. She further delves into the motivations and rationales that underpin the organization's formation. The conversation extends to exploring the scientific underpinnings concerning premature infants and the challenges inherent in sourcing milk for these vulnerable infants. The segment concludes with a glimpse into Linda's freezer, encapsulating a comprehensive exploration of the subject matter.
Tommy D initiates the segment by addressing the appropriate management of surplus milk for mothers. Linda subsequently offers detailed guidance on the suitable course of action for these mothers, delineating the process and guidelines for donating excess milk. She systematically outlines the requisite steps that eligible mothers should undertake should they decide to contribute through donation.
Tommy D commences the segment by introducing the organization Milk Riders. Linda elaborates on the roles and contributions of these riders in support of the milk bank's mission. Linda takes a moment to extend acknowledgments to lactating women who are donating and encourages individuals to contribute to the organization. Tommy D provides the website details and urges listeners to explore it for further information. Concluding the show, Tommy D expresses gratitude towards his previous week's guests who facilitated his connection with Linda.
00:00:37.030 --> 00:00:53.699 Tommy DiMisa: oh, man! Oh, man, old woman, old human! It's your boy, Tommy D, the nonprofit sector, connector baby. Here's the deal. Every single Friday morning I make the trek up from the kitchen. I get a big old jug of water, and I make the track
00:00:53.730 --> 00:00:55.130 Tommy DiMisa: all the way up
00:00:55.290 --> 00:01:22.400 Tommy DiMisa: to the attic just below the roof in my attic. That's where my studio is. That's where the show happens. That's where the nonprofit magic happens at the top of the house. Why? Well, because 3 years ago I got locked away in an attic, and I came up with this idea years before that about philanthropy focus. But it all came to fruition here, literally here on top radio that I must see, but also here in my attic, and every week I do a couple of things.
00:01:22.410 --> 00:01:25.039 Tommy DiMisa: I meet with a leader, but non-profit organization.
00:01:25.370 --> 00:01:44.839 Tommy DiMisa: I help them tell their story, and, as I like to say, amplify their message, and shout out to my friend, Valerie Heffron. She loves that word amplify. She doesn't love that word, amplify. In fact, on our other show professionals and animal show. I give her a hard time, and I use that word because I dig that word amplify. So it just means louder and bigger, and if you're Tommy D.
00:01:44.840 --> 00:02:09.810 Tommy DiMisa: Well, if you seen Tommy D, then you know, that's sort of how I get is louder and bigger and more excitable. There was a warranty von song, excitable boy, and sometimes I feel like that excitable boy, even though a 45 year old boy. I feel like that at times I feel like there's so much in the world that that gets me going, and so many things I want to see shout out to my Ad. Or is my Adhd is my creators out there? I just have to say that I wasn't planning on saying
00:02:09.810 --> 00:02:10.380 today.
00:02:10.380 --> 00:02:33.229 Tommy DiMisa: But look, man, you know it's something about that dopamine fix that we look for that. I'm looking for, man that I go. I wanna try that. I wanna see what that's all about. I wanna play with. That thing doesn't always mean to finish a lot of projects. But it means you get to have a good ride while you're trying stuff out. So look, that's sort of what philanthropy and focus is, man. Every week it's Friday again, and that. And right after that, like
00:02:33.230 --> 00:02:56.959 Tommy DiMisa: in like 6 and a half days. It becomes Friday like again, and it just keeps happening so like sort of like groundhogs day in a good way, though, because every week. I come up here on a Friday morning, and there's another leader of a nonprofit. We're in the 100 3,132 marked on how many programs I've done of an idea that I had, and I don't necessarily tell you that because you should be so fired up for me, although I do appreciate it if you are.
00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:58.600 but I tell you that because
00:02:59.090 --> 00:03:02.080 Tommy DiMisa: if you have an idea to go, do the thing.
00:03:02.110 --> 00:03:27.169 Tommy DiMisa: do yourself a favor. Just go do the thing. It may not work. It probably won't work exactly, I know. Let me stop it. It isn't gonna work exactly how you thought it was going to work. I promise you that it might work better. You might learn how to do things differently. Go, Freakin, try something, man, I tell you all the time on the show I got 50 years left. I've been saying that for 3, so I guess I got. I guess at the time I actually had 53 years left. So I have this deal with the universe where I've worked it out. Maybe I'll be immortal.
00:03:27.340 --> 00:03:46.720 Tommy DiMisa: but I don't know about if that would be so much fun, because too much Tommy D. Might be too much for the world. Anyway. Let's get into the show fully. Pm, focus. That's the name of the program. I, as I told you in the nonprofit sector connector, I would not be a very good nonprofit sector connector if it wasn't for my network. So if it wasn't for Heather Edwards introducing me to the get today's guest.
00:03:46.720 --> 00:04:01.709 Tommy DiMisa: Linda Hairlich, if it wasn't for the team at Spirit of Huntington putting me onto the fact that shout out the spirit of Huntington, shout out to Suzanne and Michael and James and everybody over there at Spirit and Diane. And and just you know the team that does our artwork for vanguard benefits.
00:04:01.740 --> 00:04:13.320 Tommy DiMisa: As I said earlier this year, we started. I didn't tell you this yet today. But I've I've told you the past. Earlier this year I decided that one episode of the show would work in tandem with our agency vanguard benefits
00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:29.079 Tommy DiMisa: around an awareness month around a last week was global breast feeding awareness week didn't even know that was a thing 3 weeks ago. Right then I found that it was a thing I was like. I don't really know if that's like, how would I do that on the show? I don't know a nonprofit that's in that space.
00:04:29.080 --> 00:04:45.190 Tommy DiMisa: and little did I know I did know a nonprofit that's in a space shout out to Heather Edwards. She brought on 2 pediatricians that focus in breastfeeding and lactation medicine here from the program last week, and then, after the show, well, prior to the show, I've been introduced to my guest, Linda. By the way, Linda.
00:04:45.210 --> 00:04:47.380 Tommy DiMisa: good morning, Linda Harlick, how are ya?
00:04:47.440 --> 00:05:03.989 Tommy DiMisa: Good morning. Are you doing great on this Friday?
00:05:04.190 --> 00:05:28.340 Tommy DiMisa: I should call Linda right now. I was like Linda. What do you think about coming on the show next week? Like as a follow up piece to what we just didn't look, I mean, tell me Day, and that's how it all works, and that's why we are so. Linda is the executive director of an organization called Milk Bank of New York, the Milk Bank of New York. Correct. That's how we said the New York Milk Bank. So
00:05:28.340 --> 00:05:34.489 Tommy DiMisa: what does that actually mean? I don't know. We're gonna find out. That's why we do the show. I know this.
00:05:34.590 --> 00:05:59.209 Tommy DiMisa: Linda. I have been telling people all week since last Friday morning. We spoke about 5 after 11 that I'm going on a tour of the facility up in Valhalla, like to the point of people are figuring out what I should wear during the tour, and like this is how this this is. What this phenomenon, if you will, is about. You know the nonprofit sector connector about philanthropy folks and about 60 days of service, which
00:05:59.210 --> 00:06:08.529 Tommy DiMisa: gang there's only 2 days left. I did day number 58 this week. There's only 2 days left. Actually it was yesterday morning. Let me shout it out. The team at Td. Bank
00:06:08.570 --> 00:06:15.289 Tommy DiMisa: invited me to Operation Splash, which is at down in Freeport, Long Island, and we went out. We took a boat.
00:06:15.610 --> 00:06:43.770 Tommy DiMisa: We now we were cleaning out garbage off of the shore in the bay, in one of the bays down in Freeport. It's really tragic plastics, garbage beer, bottles, soda cans, all types of trash that people just leave around which ends up in our waterways, which ends up tragically in our animals, as you probably are aware, checkout operation splash. Thanks to Td. Bag, thanks specifically to Scott Borrow, which for the invitation, and that day number 58. Only 2 days, Linda. 60 days of service is this mission I'm on
00:06:43.840 --> 00:06:50.180 Tommy DiMisa: when I run out of days, which is gonna happen in 2 days. Do you want to know what happens after that?
00:06:50.400 --> 00:07:09.289 Tommy DiMisa: I'm gonna guess you repeat the whole thing, hashtag 70 days of service. So that's how it works. So sorry, spoiler, alert. We just hold you guys out of this, but that's all it is. And then I'll spend the next year and a half of 2 years doing 70 days of service, and then
00:07:09.290 --> 00:07:33.920 Tommy DiMisa: I probably don't need to tell you guys what happens after that. But we'll talk about that in a couple of years. So, Linda, let's dive into this. I mean your your background. I wanna read a little bit of your background as we talked about last week what we're gonna do. And we spoke again earlier this week, we're gonna talk about you, you as a leader, your background. Certainly. The organization, the programs of the organization, the impact of the organization. I don't think we'll go to my calendar during the show, live and try and pick what data I'm coming up for tour. I think we should do that
00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:44.190 Tommy DiMisa: after the show. And then really, just the impact. And what do you need? How can we help. It's not. It's not a legacy type organization. It's a it's a pretty new organization, correct
00:07:44.310 --> 00:08:09.150 Tommy DiMisa: correct, only 6 years old. So here's what I'm going to read Linda's interest in social impact stems from her early work as a registered dietician wishes. So first hand, how environmental, cultural, and societal factors influence one's ability to reach their full potential. Hmm! I don't know. Social determinants of health, maybe. Huh! I, with an ambition to transition and management, she pursued her Mba. From Columbia Business School.
00:08:09.390 --> 00:08:12.680 Tommy DiMisa: and this led to a career at Craft foods, overseeing
00:08:12.750 --> 00:08:31.399 Tommy DiMisa: that strategic planning and marketing for Maxwell House Arm and Maxwell House, where they pop the top with the. We used to keep change in those in those cans. I didn't know if they still have those kids. I'm too lazy to make my own coffee at this point in my life. Later on she returned to to promoting health and earn her doctorate in public health from New York
00:08:31.490 --> 00:08:38.729 Tommy DiMisa: Medical College and became the Director of Operations and Communications at Child Obesity, 180 at Tufts University. That's down in Philly
00:08:38.929 --> 00:09:06.379 Tommy DiMisa: obesity prevention. It goes on more and more. But I really want you to be able to tell the story. It's funny. I want to tell that I wanna say something. I met a young man last week who's really he's got 2 masters degrees, and it's really trying to crack in to public health work, and one of his master's degrees in public health.
00:09:06.550 --> 00:09:22.050 Tommy DiMisa: and you know he's in jobs right now that he's not happy doing. And I said, You can't do that anymore. And I don't know. I mean, I just met him. I was in. I was at an event. I met his aunt randomly. I don't think there's anything random. I met his aunt, she said, you need to meet my nephew. She brings him over
00:09:22.100 --> 00:09:27.789 Tommy DiMisa: when we're chatting, and on Saturday last week we had like an hour conversation because I was in the car.
00:09:28.110 --> 00:09:56.289 Tommy DiMisa: I said to him, Look, man, let me help you like. Let me make connections for you. So, Linda, I might ask you later on, like, Can I? Absolutely. I love talking to young people about your careers, public health providing some mentorship. Yes, I will use his first name because it's a very common first name, Michael, I will be making an introduction for you. Alright, Linda, thank you for that, because that makes me a better way. So let's talk about your journey. I want to know how you.
00:09:56.400 --> 00:10:03.369 Tommy DiMisa: how you got to this work, what we just talked about your your degrees and your designations. I mean, what is your journey? What was the trip about?
00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:10.170 Linda Harelick: Well, I would say, it's basically always sort of leveraging the skills and the talents I kind of developed over time.
00:10:10.300 --> 00:10:28.549 Linda Harelick: So when I started off as a registered dietician, I was working up in Boston National Hospital, bringing my Women's Hospital, and I really did enjoy the work I enjoyed the clinical work. However, there was sort of at that time there was no career path. I'm very goal oriented. So I kinda needed like a a ladder decline.
00:10:28.630 --> 00:10:44.549 Linda Harelick: So that's why I decided. Well, perhaps, ma, I would be better suited to management. And that's why, when I got my business degree from Columbia Business School, and I had all full intention of going back into healthcare. In the area of management. However, I fell in love with marketing
00:10:44.600 --> 00:11:11.160 Linda Harelick: when I was active as a school, and you know it was just so similar in my mind to whether you're trying to persuade or motivate someone to stay on a particular diet or a course of exercise, or, you know, buying your brand, or, you know, enjoying you know what you have to offer from the commercial side of things. It was. It was very similar, you know, understanding someone's insight, their motivation, what they're trying to achieve with their goals are. And so I decided to just go
00:11:11.160 --> 00:11:21.889 Linda Harelick: into corporate America and get some classical. It's called consumer package goods, marketing experience, or a classical marketing training. And then I would go back into healthcare.
00:11:21.890 --> 00:11:51.630 Linda Harelick: Wow! I really enjoyed my time at craft worked with super smart people always had interesting projects, always a challenge. And so, 17 years later, decided, now is the time. So I was at craft for 17 years, and, as I said, really enjoyed my time, but wanted to work in an area of what I call like greater social consequence. I always found, you know, purpose in my work, but really wanted to, you know, do something where I could feel that I was sort of giving back more directly.
00:11:51.810 --> 00:11:59.539 Linda Harelick: and so decide. The best way to do that was to go and get my doctorate in public health, because public health is really broad. It's everything from.
00:11:59.540 --> 00:12:23.779 Linda Harelick: you know, vaccines to wearing a seat belt. Chronic illnesses. So it's so broad that I figured I would find my way in that if I got this academic training, and I again, I really enjoyed. And I didn't plan this. It wasn't like, you know, 5 years before that I had planned. It was just something that I started to pursue to pursue, and decided to dive into and then from there, you know, I always say, to keep your network, alive and well informed.
00:12:23.780 --> 00:12:53.519 Linda Harelick: well fed, and through a connection. At Craft I met the founders of child obesity, 180 at Tops university. and it was sort of like a perfect combination because it was a multi-sector organization. And I was like a multi-sector person. I'd worked in nonprofits, corporate America. I had worked on a government grant. At 1 point I'd worked at a university when I got my degree. I was also working there at New York Medical College. So I sort of had this, you know, broad kind of multi-sector experience as well.
00:12:53.520 --> 00:13:03.790 Linda Harelick: And so so that's sort of how I really started. My sort of public health and nonprofit work was back in, I say, 2,012
00:13:03.790 --> 00:13:18.390 Linda Harelick: and then I, you know, worked in the area of childhood obesity for a while. And then again, this someone called me and executive recruiter and said, You know we have this job at the New York Milk Bank. And I thought, Oh, my goodness, this is the exact combination!
00:13:18.390 --> 00:13:40.160 Linda Harelick: It's public health. It's it's food production, you know, whether you're producing coffee, or you're producing pressurized. You know, donor human milk. It's it's it's the same process. I will say, so I thought, this really combines, you know, all my skills, all my talents, all my knowledge. And I wanted. I wanted a challenge. So I accepted.
00:13:40.170 --> 00:14:09.050 Tommy DiMisa: What year did you join the organization? So I joined just in the beginning of 2022. So I've been here about 18 months, 18 months, you know. I mean, wow! What a great culmination, you know. They say, like hindsight is 2020, right like you. Now, looking back at the although that made a lot of sense that I would say there and do that thing and pick up this knowledge. And you know something from the very first moment you started speaking about leveraging your skills. So now I think it's probably you're in this unique position to look back and go. I'm in this role
00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:14.189 Tommy DiMisa: because of all these skills I acquired. Like, you know, there's like some. You know.
00:14:14.730 --> 00:14:38.140 Tommy DiMisa: II don't know much about like gaming, or like cards like pokemon cards and things like that. But my kids sometimes collect them, and so many people listening might be into this type of stuff. And and you know, I think about like skill cards, and like you've collected these skill cards, and I'm at this point at 45 years old, thinking like, well, what are my skill cards? What about cards that I have that I can put into play right? And I think that's what we need to do as
00:14:38.140 --> 00:14:51.029 Tommy DiMisa: as we grow in our careers in our and career is such a funny word to use, because, like, you know, for many years, I started my career at Edp and payroll sales when I was 24 years old. That was a long time ago, and
00:14:51.400 --> 00:15:03.109 Tommy DiMisa: I always refer to myself for a long time as I'm a sales guy. I'm a salesman. I'm a sales guy, and you know somebody's checking in talking about creativity on, on twitch. And I just think it's like it's all about us
00:15:03.730 --> 00:15:16.629 Tommy DiMisa: gathering these things and not putting ourselves in one box like that was limiting for me honestly to just be like like a creative yeah, maybe a bit of a showman, but not like like, not like this.
00:15:16.630 --> 00:15:35.109 Tommy DiMisa: But I was. II think we need to realize there's so much we gain and garner, and the knowledge and the other piece that stood out for me, which is so on, brand for the nonprofit sector connector. As you were talking about some of the moves you made, you said you wanted to keep your network well fed. You wanted to nurture those relationships.
00:15:35.110 --> 00:16:04.189 Tommy DiMisa: God, critically important, not to mention how I already leveraged an introduction in the first 2 min of the show like, I'm like, I gotta get with this guy because that's gonna help. It's gonna help him, which helps me, which I feel better. Maybe it helps wherever you help him land if such a thing happens, and that's the world. And that's what we're supposed to be doing. So really, really important way to start to show off like that. We are gonna go to a quick break. We come back. We're gonna dive more deeply into this conversation about you, your background, and obviously the organization.
00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:08.859 Tommy DiMisa: And then for our friends who are watching this video somewhere.
00:16:09.010 --> 00:16:18.109 Tommy DiMisa: there's a freezer behind you, and we'll find out what's in the freezer when we come back? That's a teaser on the freezer. We're right back.
00:18:27.070 --> 00:18:47.149 Tommy DiMisa: No, I think what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna stop having a name song great when we come back so I could sing it to you, and then you wouldn't have to hear Brendan Levy sing it, although I do love my Brendan. And that song, although II was listening to one of my favorite groups. People called Revolution this morning. And one of the tunes. I like to listen to. Both
00:18:47.150 --> 00:19:00.709 Tommy DiMisa: good vibes. Bring in only good vibes. And I'm thinking I need a version of the of the song in that, like that Reggae style. So, Brandon, if you're listening, I'll text you later. If you're not, we might need to redo the song, as a
00:19:00.710 --> 00:19:24.379 Tommy DiMisa: you know, like we might need to cover your own song, but in a different style, and then and shout out to Mick Collins, who's putting funny? Quotes Tommy Demiser in the freezer teaser. He's a people pleaser. They're not a guy, Mick Collins. He's a big time. M. And M. Fan. I love Eminem as well, although I grow. Listen to a tribe call Quest and Cypress Hill, and and some of the others. But but I'm certainly M. And M. And M. Easy for you to say, kid, right?
00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:53.330 Tommy DiMisa: I also am an M. And M. Fan. But, Mick, love, you appreciate always posting things and also appreciate the work you do pay forward processing. So Linda Mick is a good buddy of mine. We know. We saw that through network connecting we hung out down in DC last year, but another nonprofit event and his company gives back pay for processing. They give back their net, proceeds to nonprofit organizations. They're Merchant Processing company. So I like to shout him out and like, get him connected. And then network throughout my world. So let's dive back into the
00:19:53.680 --> 00:20:07.000 Tommy DiMisa: topic at hand. Which is milk, is it not? Got milk? Human milk, all right in in honor of what was last week was global breastfeeding awareness week.
00:20:07.010 --> 00:20:30.470 Tommy DiMisa: Right? We I've been putting putting it out there on social media as month. So we're giving it the whole month. Let's talk about the foundation of the milk bank. It was 5 women only in 2,016, as we say, not too long ago, which again. It's funny. It's funny to be a human being, because I'm thinking, like I didn't even know this was a thing right like this is what exactly what happened to me while I was doing work this morning.
00:20:30.470 --> 00:20:54.550 Tommy DiMisa: going on some reading the notices. Most people have never heard of the Human Milk Bank. This is an opportunity to learn about the source of nutrition. And on and on, right. There's some information you sent over, I mean, yeah, I never heard of it. And then I'm looking on website. I go. Oh, they only found this in 2 16. Into what I go. What do you mean? How come it took so long right, and I go, but I never heard of it a minute ago, and then I was already onto like, how come? It didn't exist already. I think that's funny, and some people are laughing. And listen. People like
00:20:54.550 --> 00:21:07.600 Tommy DiMisa: Shut up and let Linda talk. Tommy. Okay, fine. We'll do that. So, Linda, let's talk about the organization. Let's talk about the founding of the Organization Leader organization. I know you know the story. So let's dive into some of that.
00:21:07.790 --> 00:21:30.439 Linda Harelick: Okay. Great. So, yes. Back in it was probably back in 2014. Where 5 women who, you know, knew each other, some closely, some briefly. Got together pediatricians or involved neonatologists lactation consultants and said, You know what milk banking has been around for decades. However, there is no milk bank in New York State.
00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:54.869 Linda Harelick: And so milk was coming from other milk banks. And you know probably not. Really being able to supply the entirety of New York State. And so we really felt, you know, felt that there should be a milk bank right in New York State. So New York State milk for New York State babies, and so took about 2 years how to raise a lot of funds, how to really understand all the the regulatory environment. We are
00:21:54.920 --> 00:22:18.929 Linda Harelick: licensed by the Department of Health. We are regulated by the FDA. We are accredited by a national organization called the Human Milk Banking Association of North America or Havana. So lots of things have to be put in place to be able to open a milk bank become accredited and become licensed. And so in 2,016 they opened up in a very small space. Had one small passion
00:22:18.930 --> 00:22:42.809 Linda Harelick: Pasteurizer, and was, I know, up and up and running, and then the demand became so strong. In 2,018 we moved to this facility. Here, where we now have 20 freezers plus a walk in freezer. We have 5 refrigerators. We have 3 Pasteurizers. It's really quite an amazing facility that raw milk from ma, you know. Very generous moms. Milk donors come in
00:22:42.810 --> 00:22:55.250 Linda Harelick: front door and it is processed bottled, pasteurized tested for safety, and then dispense to mainly hospitals and and families in need. So
00:22:55.370 --> 00:23:03.369 Linda Harelick: so that's sort of like in a nutshell. What took, you know, a lot of effort and a lot of time, a lot of dedication from these 5 women.
00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:16.089 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah. And I think that's something we need to be mindful of. And I went to the website and I'll go there again. So I might do a bad job on some of these names. But Susan Virtra Hellick.
00:23:16.090 --> 00:23:39.099 Tommy DiMisa: right bank org, and you'll see these 5 founders. I wonder if you can talk a little bit about you know
00:23:39.130 --> 00:24:03.150 Tommy DiMisa: what, what what it was for them that they said, this actually needs to be a thing like when you speak to them and you connect with them. What for them? I mean, I have a bunch of notes about, you know, statistics and what we, what with the organization, as the amounts of milk that have changed hands and gotten into the babies that need them to need the milk with thrive. But what? What do you think it was for them? From your connection to the well, I think you know, certainly demand for donor milk has been increasing.
00:24:03.250 --> 00:24:10.959 Linda Harelick: So I think there was this. They saw this need that we needed to have a milk bank closer to home in New York State to be able to meet that demand.
00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:34.920 Linda Harelick: And you know the neonatologists involved. Borana, you know she works with these little tiny babies that are born 2, 3 pounds that really human milk is the best form, and if if Mom's own milk is unavailable or not sufficient then. Donor human milk that's been pasteurized. That is the best thing for these babies, and really not only to help them survive, but also to.
00:24:34.920 --> 00:24:37.230 but we say to thrive
00:24:37.230 --> 00:24:50.880 Linda Harelick: And so there was a real need. You know she saw the real need and the pediatricians when these babies sometimes leave the hospital. They still require donor milk and so they really saw this need from it, from a medical point of view.
00:24:50.880 --> 00:25:15.160 Tommy DiMisa: and just to be able to help. You know babies in need. And we sort of estimate we don't know exactly, but we estimate that we'd probably save about a hundred babies lives a year.
00:25:15.330 --> 00:25:16.789 Tommy DiMisa: A mom has a baby.
00:25:17.010 --> 00:25:25.250 Tommy DiMisa: I mean, that baby is born premature, or some other challenges. Or certainly, if you're talking about a tiny little 1, one or 2 pound baby, I mean.
00:25:25.260 --> 00:25:30.770 Tommy DiMisa: That's a very scary, very challenging, challenging scenario for a family
00:25:30.820 --> 00:25:54.819 Tommy DiMisa: and 100 babies. Lives have been saved by this because of this organization. What do I tell you about nonprofits? They change the freaking world. Now we talk to a nonprofit that is saving lives. Okay, not the only nonprofit saving lives, but it is certainly an important organization that wasn't there and is now there. So again I was down at Disney World.
00:25:55.000 --> 00:26:28.200 Tommy DiMisa: Let's see, I wanna tell you how old my sister is. She might get upset, but she was a baby. So it was a long time ago, and it was like over 30 years ago. and there was a character that they just came up with figment, and he was like, I don't even think he's a real character anymore. Well, it wasn't real, either. He's only a figment of someone's imagination. There's the story a figment of your imagination something you think of that you might say. I don't know, you might say, Hey, I really like nonprofits. I want to do show every Friday morning at 100'clock and talk to nonprofit leaders. You might, and then you'd have to battle against me because I already do that. But the idea is, you might do that, or you might say, I want to
00:26:28.200 --> 00:26:34.400 found a nonprofit organization. Or you might say, I want to build something that will change people's lives and make them
00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:35.880 Tommy DiMisa: safer.
00:26:35.880 --> 00:26:52.359 Tommy DiMisa: healthier, have more fun, whatever do it, just try it. This show was never really supposed about me inspiring people to just go out and do stuff, but it sort of turns into that, because if you don't do it, and these 5 women didn't do it well, maybe those 100 babies lives would not have been saved.
00:26:52.490 --> 00:27:14.449 Tommy DiMisa: What's that impact? That's what we talk about. We talk a lot about impact. I'm on a rant. Let me get off my soapbox. Let me put my soapbox back in the closet. Yeah, I'll also say one other thing, the lactation experts Julie and and and Roseanne in particular, who founded the organization they also saw that it's very difficult when a baby is born premature.
00:27:14.450 --> 00:27:34.380 Linda Harelick: the Mom's memory. Plans are also premature. So it doesn't always mean that they can produce anything or enough for that baby. So exactly. Exactly. So that's why you know. That's why this is it's so critical.
00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:46.269 Tommy DiMisa: It's it's II wanna talk now about the day in the life of what it's like at the milk bank, although before we do that we're actually gonna go to Quick break. So before we go to a break, I wanna ask you.
00:27:46.530 --> 00:27:47.430 Tommy DiMisa: Linda.
00:27:47.460 --> 00:28:17.020 Tommy DiMisa: what's in the free?
00:28:17.020 --> 00:28:41.890 Linda Harelick: A mom whose baby was born premature. So that's why it's pink. Okay? So if a baby was born less than 37 weeks, then for the next 30 days. Any milk that that mom produces. It's considered to be preterm milk. So this can go specifically to preterm babies and really has a lot of the protein and the nutrients that are premature. Baby would need to continue to grow and develop.
00:28:41.900 --> 00:29:05.799 Linda Harelick: And so the so the milk comes in, it comes in in a box. Typically, or mom can drop it off. We love it when moms drop off their milk if they look close by, because sometimes they bring their babies, which is great sometimes. Yeah. Well, kind of like, you know, kind of attach at the hip or the breast. We could say so they come in, or it comes in overnight delivery.
00:29:05.800 --> 00:29:28.540 Linda Harelick: and it's fro, you know. It's still frozen when it comes to us, we unpack it. We make sure that it's all. It's all good. We weigh it, and then we put it into these bags. It will be color coded if it's especially tight milk, and then it's put directly into our freezer. So I'm gonna go put it back in our freezer, and I'm sure you guys want to know, too, like
00:29:28.540 --> 00:29:43.449 Tommy DiMisa: we're like, if I was a mom and I'm not a mom. But if I was a mom like. So, Linda, here's what we were. Gonna I was talking to the crowd while you were away. So here's what we want to know, and we're gonna maybe we'll do this when we come back. Well, I'll give you some time to think about it like, so if I was a new mom.
00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:48.349 Tommy DiMisa: or let's just why stop being a new month. If I had a woman in my life and she was a new month.
00:29:48.380 --> 00:29:53.169 Tommy DiMisa: that old friend, or whatever, and she had surplus milk. Right?
00:29:53.460 --> 00:30:14.099 Tommy DiMisa: What would do do you send her? You don't have the answers now. Will let everything about. It will be like a game show. You all think about what it might be, and then Linda and I'll tell you the answer. We come back. But, like, what is she sent to Kit like, how does she know what? How to so like? What does that all look like? I want to know? Everybody know inquiring minds want to know. We'll be right back.
00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:24.029 Tommy DiMisa: Thank you for joining me in my added Alright. Here's what I want you to know real quick before Linda and I get right back into it. The New York Milk Bank is a nonprofit organization that collects excess, breast milk from lactating women in good health.
00:32:24.030 --> 00:32:47.960 Tommy DiMisa: The milk is bottled, pasteurized and distributed to babies and needs around New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Since opening in 2,016, we have diligently screened over 5,000 generous donors. That's a big deal. I we I don't even know, like like, how much, how many people come by and visit. We're gonna hear more about that. But 5,000 generous donors, and distributed more than listen for it. 1 million
00:32:48.150 --> 00:33:13.499 Tommy DiMisa: ounces of precious donor milk. I've heard it called liquid gold. In fact, my friend Heather Edwards called liquid gold. You know. II think about when I say 1 million, I think about the book fair and give it away. 4 million books. I think about my friend Heather Edwards giving away freaking millions of diapers and millions of wives all by herself, one woman running an incredible organization out there. So Nymb is committed to enhancing the help and survival of infants
00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:22.219 Tommy DiMisa: in need by ensuring the availability and quality of pasturized donor. Human will milk when mothers own milk is unavailable. So I did Video early this week, and I said, Look.
00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:50.360 Tommy DiMisa: mother's milk is best. If not, then go under milk, and then maybe we get down to formula right? And if that becomes like it's, it's a different version, I think, at least in my experience. We had 4 children and you know, I feel like when you leave the household trying to give you samples of stuff to take. You know I'm not gonna beat up companies. I know you used to work for craft and we're not. Gonna we're not here to disparage anything is a is a capitalist society we live in. I understand a bit about business. But at the same time we need to think about
00:33:50.380 --> 00:33:57.609 Tommy DiMisa: scientifically and naturally, what is best for our babies. Specifically, the babies in most need, as we've talked about alright. So
00:33:57.890 --> 00:33:59.779 Tommy DiMisa: when we last spoke.
00:33:59.990 --> 00:34:13.890 Tommy DiMisa: which was like 30 s ago, when we last spoke, you took out a pink bag of frozen milk. You said it was preterm milk, meaning the moms had delivered a baby who was younger than 37 weeks, right like hadn't gone past 37 weeks in term.
00:34:14.230 --> 00:34:23.199 Tommy DiMisa: So and then I said, Well, I'd like to know if a mom has extra milk or a surplus of milk.
00:34:23.409 --> 00:34:33.529 Tommy DiMisa: How how does she contact you? How does she find out? Like, I mean not to be silly, but there needs to be somewhere to put the milk and freeze the milk and do that stuff right? So tell us about that process
00:34:33.590 --> 00:34:40.950 Linda Harelick: right? Exactly. So. So that amount of milk that I sort of just pulled out of the freezer. If you have that amount of milk or more stashed
00:34:41.230 --> 00:35:04.799 Linda Harelick: in your freezer because you were, you know, thinking that oh, when I returned to work, or if I travel, I'm gonna need that milk, and then you end up. That becomes excess milk. Your baby does not need that milk we want to hear from you, and so, if you have excess milk in your freezer, please, you can give us a call, or probably easiest. If you just go to our website. So nymilkank.org, you'll see right on the
00:35:04.800 --> 00:35:11.349 right on the first page. Click the donate milk and it will take you to a very brief survey. Just an initial
00:35:11.410 --> 00:35:35.609 Linda Harelick: eligibility. Survey. If you submit that we will give you a call, we'll have a more in depth conversation. We'll send you an application. That application. It is long, I will warn you, but you can. You can make it through. It is about your your health, your lifestyle, any medications that that you're on things like vitamin. Use all kinds of things related to your health, just to make sure that
00:35:35.700 --> 00:35:51.610 Linda Harelick: the milk that we are receiving is appropriate for a little baby, especially a baby in a sick baby in the Nicu you also will be required to have a medical clearance for your doctor, so just, you know a sign off saying, Yes, you know that my patient is in good health.
00:35:51.610 --> 00:36:09.700 Linda Harelick: and then a blood test. We do test for certain things that can be transmitted through breast milk, and so HIV syphilis htl and hepatitis. So those 4 things the blood test will determine. And
00:36:09.940 --> 00:36:22.640 Linda Harelick: and then you will be approved as a donor, and and we pay for all you know any of the the costs involved with the blood test. We pay for all of that. Then if you're not local to us, we will send you a box.
00:36:22.640 --> 00:36:44.510 Linda Harelick: and in the box will be a liner so that the milk your your milk is gonna be frozen. It's gonna be put into this box. It's gonna be sealed up and sent to us overnight. We also ask you that you do sort of a just, you know. Tell us what's been going on. Have you been on any medication recently? Has anything, you know changed? With your health, so that we have all the up to date information.
00:36:44.570 --> 00:36:51.539 Linda Harelick: If you prefer. We also have what's called depos or collection sites throughout all of New York State.
00:36:51.540 --> 00:37:16.400 Linda Harelick: And that way, instead of having to sort of pack up your milk, you can take it to this collection site, and it could be a Yoga studio. It could be a pediatrician's office. It could be, you know, a a hospital setting, and you can drop your milk off there they will collect that milk, and then, you know, package it all up and send it to us. So if you are a yoga studio or a pediatrician's office, and you would like to
00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:32.810 Linda Harelick: be a part of this journey of breast milk from like, say, from breast to belly. We also wanna hear from you as well. Cause having more collection. Sites also increases our awareness and makes it more convenient for moms who are very busy to be dropping off their milk.
00:37:32.940 --> 00:38:02.290 Linda Harelick: And so once we okay. So once we receive the milk, heavy duty jacket as well.
00:38:02.290 --> 00:38:09.270 Linda Harelick: So there I am actually dispensing the milk that has come in through the front door and has been through our process.
00:38:09.270 --> 00:38:31.190 Tommy DiMisa: So once the milk enters our freezers. We have a production schedules when it's ready to be bottled, we take it out. We. It's a thought in our refrigerators. It's then it's strained. It will be typically mixed with 3 or 4 other donors of milk to sort of even out the nutritional profile of the milk.
00:38:31.250 --> 00:38:44.159 Linda Harelick: It's it's like a milk cocktail. Exactly exactly and then it will it will be a bottled, sealed, pasteurized to kill any bacteria or inactivate any viruses
00:38:44.170 --> 00:39:10.820 Linda Harelick: the milk, then enters our refrigerators to be chilled, and we send out one bottle from each batch has to go out to an external lab to be tested for any. You know bacteria that might be growing. Once that is cleared then it can enter our inventory. It goes into our walk in freezer, and then, when hospitals, order, place an order or families place an order, it is dispensed.
00:39:10.980 --> 00:39:40.539 Tommy DiMisa: II mean, wow, I what are like? It's you know what I mean. I could see how fun this is gonna be when I come out for tour. So if you live near Valhalla and you're interested in nonprofit organizations, and you're interested in your boy, Tommy D. You know. Maybe II don't know how many people are gonna show up, but we should talk about it. But don't just show up. Don't just reach out to me, Tommy. D send me a note on on Instagram. If you want Tommy, Dyc. Or send me an email, Tommy D. At philanthropy in focus, Phoe.
00:39:40.540 --> 00:39:49.209 Tommy DiMisa: And we can connect. Because I'm I'm looking to go around the country and do some stuff and sort of try out some new ideas of connecting with organizations in person.
00:39:49.210 --> 00:40:11.590 Tommy DiMisa: And I think I'm gonna have a lot of fun with that. But what I'm just seeing that the whole step by step, that you ran us through again in this setting, that's best we could do. But like if we're on site and you show me. Here's where this happens. And here's where that happens. And here's where this happens. That's like that's just so exciting to me, because it's the stories, man. It's the stories that sell. And you know, marketing background. And let's be honest.
00:40:11.590 --> 00:40:28.939 Tommy DiMisa: Listen, I got news flash news, flash news, flash nonprofits or businesses folks, okay? And yes, development people and leadership. We're some salespeople at times. Okay, cause we're selling. The mission might not be selling you a product. But we're selling you the impact and the results of what it is that we do and what happens because of what we do. Right, Linda.
00:40:29.140 --> 00:40:58.299 Tommy DiMisa: Oh, absolutely. And yes, in in our case we would love to show off. We love showing off our milk bank now that Covid, I know it's still here, but it's it's waning. We have been giving tours, and so we'd be happy to do that, and happy to put you to work with a hair net also. In fact, you know, I was at I think we got Hershey Park, and they have like one of these things where you go there, and you make like a chocolate bar.
00:40:58.300 --> 00:41:04.850 Tommy DiMisa: and they made me have like a beard net, too, like I. I've had to wear all I you know where else I wear beard net. We did something with
00:41:05.040 --> 00:41:16.520 Tommy DiMisa: Oh, I don't know the name of the organization, but it was the rotary locally here, and they were packaging food. I don't know if you've ever done this, but if folks, if you're looking for team building thing, it's like a assembly line right, Lena. So we got like
00:41:16.520 --> 00:41:35.579 Tommy DiMisa: big old box of rice, and then we got like this nutritional pack you pour in right. And then it was like beans. You would a couple of scoops of beans, and it's so fun. And I had at least 2 of my kids. But my wife and I were at least 2, my kids, my friend Burt Lurch. It was connected to the health and Business Alliance and and the rotary up in out Nassau County, one of the Rotary clubs.
00:41:35.580 --> 00:42:00.380 Tommy DiMisa: and it was just like so fun and like, that's the thing. But I had to wear a beard net twice in my life. I've had to wear beer net, a beard net. I never had to wear a beard net. Well, this this will be the third, and I will put in a plug for feeding Westchester, which also takes about, you know. Take some volunteers and and has them packing food and doing absolutely yep. And they're like, really kinda like right down the block. So
00:42:00.380 --> 00:42:21.339 Tommy DiMisa: I'd love to connect with them feeding Western love to come out and busy when I'm up that way if actually was texting my friend. My friend Dorsey lives up that way. She's she's involved with this company called One Hope, which is a wine company, and they give back 10% of profits to want to nonprofit. So we should. Darcy and I, Dorsey, gonna come on the other show at at some point. But we.
00:42:21.640 --> 00:42:38.409 Tommy DiMisa: you know, the other show I do sort of the info is nonprofit. Show where? Bring on people that service and work with the nonprofits out there, but she lives up not too far from you. So II was just saying II was up there with her. We went to volunteer. New York had a big event couple of months back. I think you and I might have talked about it.
00:42:38.410 --> 00:43:02.759 Tommy DiMisa: and that was a really special event. And so again, I am down here on Long Island, but happy to collaborate all around New York, you know, especially, you know, in where you are. It's like the Sixth to Seventh Borough. You know what I'm saying. After that it's sort of like Canada to me. So I got out to, you know, upstate New York kidding. It's just it's just a Long island, Joe. Relax everybody.
00:43:02.760 --> 00:43:27.419 Tommy DiMisa: Shout out to my friend Robert Roz that I know, listening who's originally from Troy, New York, and is now in Dunwoody, Georgia. So I never get to say hello to you. So Hello, Robert. Alright! So we are almost on to our another break, which is crazy because this is how quick the show goes. Linda, I wanna ask you a question, and I'm not gonna text you later on. I'm just gonna ask you right now. Remember when you thought we would not have enough to talk Friday morning when you're like
00:43:27.420 --> 00:43:34.239 Tommy DiMisa: you'll do just fine. We have one. We'll we'll hit on when we come back. Here's what I want to talk about or talk about when we come back a little bit about
00:43:34.630 --> 00:43:50.990 Tommy DiMisa: where we ultimately get to in this part of the show is, what do you need? How can we help? Who can we connect with? Obviously. But I do want to just send out a little teaser again is something about bikers. There's something about milk, and I will leave it there, and we'll talk about that when we come back right back.
00:45:52.650 --> 00:46:01.420 Tommy DiMisa: Talk a lot about volunteers. I'm talking a lot about getting involved in your community. I talk a lot about supporting your local nonprofits.
00:46:02.670 --> 00:46:21.289 Tommy DiMisa: I also say life begins at the end of your comfort zone. I've been known to say that. So get uncomfortable. So I have been like considering this all week, and I don't know if it's actually gonna work out or not. But there's something called the Milk Riders, the Sirens, Women's Motorcycle Club of New York City are founding members of milk Riders.
00:46:21.290 --> 00:46:33.749 Tommy DiMisa: Now, I cause I'm a crazy person. I was like, Oh, man, you know, like I'm gonna go up there and I want to volunteer. And then it's gonna show me around and apparently gotta wear a beard right now, and all this cool stuff.
00:46:33.780 --> 00:46:55.899 Tommy DiMisa: and I'm like yo. It would be hysterical like I've been telling people. So there's these these bikers, and they bring the milk around, and they're like delivery service. And I was like, how cool would it be if I'm on the back of a bike like holding. I've never been on a motorcycle in my life. In 45 years. I'm like I got. I might have to do this just for the show, just for the showmanship of the whole thing, like on the back of the bike. Hold it on to somebody, although I see some of these as I look at the website, which maybe I'll share pictures of the website.
00:46:55.900 --> 00:47:20.539 Tommy DiMisa: I see some side cars. I think I'd be perfect to be in the side car, cause. Then I don't have to worry. I wouldn't be so anxious and nervous. So maybe we do. A milk run milk run, that's like, you know, back when I was a sales guy for for Adp. You know, when you take a manager out on the road, Linda, they would say, you know you take them on a milk run, and that was like you take them to like your key accounts and people who like you in the community. So you just look like a champion. So he goes. Oh, what are you taking me on a note?
00:47:20.540 --> 00:47:32.340 Tommy DiMisa: Milk! Run, Tommy D. But and that was like what I was thinking. Anyway, I'm rambling, but I remember going to dairy barn and getting glass bottles of milk, so people used to del deliver milk many years ago.
00:47:32.390 --> 00:47:36.779 Tommy DiMisa: Tell me about the milk riders, and then we'll talk more about what the organization needs, too.
00:47:36.920 --> 00:47:56.809 Linda Harelick: Okay, great. Well, the sirens are amazing organization. They, you know, do a lot of community events. They give up their of their time. And one of the things that you know, they started doing for us was these milk riders. So when maybe a hospital is the need, it's an emergency delivery. They ran out of milk by chance.
00:47:56.810 --> 00:48:22.909 Linda Harelick: And this baby is gonna start feeding and really needs to have human milk, and we just can't get it there with our courier service or with Fedex. It would just take too long then we call upon the sirens, and they will put out a call, for you know someone to come to the milk bank and take this milk to where it needs to go. It can also happen with families who are receiving donor milk and can't afford the shipping.
00:48:22.910 --> 00:48:36.119 Linda Harelick: and so we will call upon the milk riders. As well for that. And then there are cases we're talking about upstate New York. That maybe someone who's actually donating their milk is in an area that Fedex
00:48:36.120 --> 00:48:54.649 Linda Harelick: is is not close to them. And so they, a milk rider has gone for us to get that milk and to take it to a depot for us so that that raw milk can get to us. So here you have like pictures of the milk riders. They don't always come in with their motorcycles. They do have cars.
00:48:54.650 --> 00:48:58.200 Linda Harelick: and they do deliver with their cars as well. So we're very thankful
00:48:58.200 --> 00:49:17.370 Tommy DiMisa: for that. And also just just also a shout out that they also have raised money for us. Because not only do we need milk donations, but we also need find financial donations. And so they have raised money for us. And we purchase a a freezer, and but that we use every day.
00:49:17.370 --> 00:49:35.739 Linda Harelick: and that was actually in a memory of one of the sirens who unfortunately passed away during Covid. And so her mom Judy Wetzler and the sirens raised that those funds for us. So they've given. They've given us more than just their, you know, ability to transport the milk
00:49:35.740 --> 00:49:52.120 Tommy DiMisa: of go. How did that? So we talk a lot about strategic alliances and strategic relationships. How did that one start. What was the do you remember? II do not know the answer to that. I was thinking twice, shout out to the original 5 women who founded this organization.
00:49:52.120 --> 00:50:08.779 Tommy DiMisa: Look, sirens, we should maybe do a thing. Maybe I should drive. I don't know if if if you're down for you know, I don't have a choice. I just said I would do it on live show. So but II think that would be fun. I wanna just shout them out, because.
00:50:08.780 --> 00:50:36.120 Tommy DiMisa: you know, I it's all about getting involved in your community, and it's whatever you can do, whatever your ability might be. They got these bikes. They can be in and out of places quick, right? And yes, of course they have cars as well like you said, but it's just a passion for what they're doing, and condolences on the on the loss of one of your riders, for sure. And what a great legacy and memory to utilize that tragedy to go out and raise, though to buy a freezer which now serves all these babies, and that lives on in someone's, in, in the memories
00:50:36.120 --> 00:50:59.050 Tommy DiMisa: and lives on as as a legacy. So before I start crying, which we talked about, your husband is gonna come on, he's gonna be II don't. It seems what he does. I'm gonna be crying, laughing, but I think he's gonna it sounds like he's a big mush like me, so it'll be, you know I've got your new show. It's gonna be 2 guys crying, welcome to the show. Let's talk about what you need. Any events coming up any fundraisers, anything we should know about.
00:50:59.260 --> 00:51:26.840 Linda Harelick: Absolutely so. Well, what? Well, just most practically. We do need milk, and so we always are in need of donated milk. So just shout out to any you know healthy, lactating women who have excess milk beyond what their own babies need. Please reach out to us via the website. Fill up the very short questionnaire, and we will be giving you a call. So that's always a need, and so shout out to that.
00:51:26.840 --> 00:51:52.039 Linda Harelick: We also, you know, the financial donations. Because ours, our, we're always trying to innovate. We're always trying to enhance our whether it's production. Ca, capabilities, our systems, and that that you know, that cost money. So so financial donations. And we have, you know, wonderful foundations and and folks that have given to us year after year. And so we truly appreciate those generous donors. And
00:51:52.330 --> 00:52:13.110 Linda Harelick: more more is always needed. in terms of events, we're sort of have one. That's that's just. And it's very infancy, not pun intended. Okay, so we have.
00:52:13.390 --> 00:52:26.030 Linda Harelick: you know, there are the moms who? You know, healthy, lactating mom moms who are donating, and, you know, over a long period of time. But we also receive calls from bereaved moms. So these are moms who have
00:52:26.030 --> 00:52:49.069 Linda Harelick: Yes, we're gonna be crying have lost their their babies, and they feel that there is meaning to them, and a worth to them to us to be able to donate the milk that they have maybe already pumped, or they wanna pump a little bit to have, you know, to to give some meaning to their tremendous loss. And so we have what we call a butterfly tree.
00:52:49.080 --> 00:53:16.959 Linda Harelick: and so we have a paper cut out, butterflies that we put the baby's name on, and their date of birth, and it sits up there as a remembrance, and really to honor these babies and their moms who have given milk to us. And we would like to, instead of having paper cut outs. We want to have a little something a little bit more. You know, long lasting. And so we are. We are creating ceramic butterflies.
00:53:17.230 --> 00:53:42.149 Linda Harelick: and I always say, when I work for an organization, all hair licks work for an organization, and my brother in law who is a I'm not sure I have to ask him this. A potter or ceramicist. This is what he does as says business. Yeah, it's gorgeous. Dan Dan Hairlich. Look him up on Instagram. He's does amazing, beautiful things, and he also he has a real passion for this work, and he has a studio, and he does
00:53:42.150 --> 00:53:51.260 Linda Harelick: mit Ctl and teaches children and adults. And so next, on Tuesday, my staff and I, we were going to go, and he is going to let us cut out some of the butterflies
00:53:51.260 --> 00:53:56.039 Linda Harelick: so that, and then he will. We will. He will paint them and
00:53:56.320 --> 00:54:25.229 Linda Harelick: fire them, and then I would love to have an event where we, you know, reveal our new butterfly tree and invite Mom's donors. Believe Mom's donors are funders to to celebrate and and to honor this. So that's a that's something that we would like to do. We're gonna give you some pop right here. I'm gonna actually just share my screen.
00:54:25.240 --> 00:54:54.389 Tommy DiMisa: Go to the Instagram, go to the igo while you're there. Checkout, Tommy. D dot nyc, why, there. Check out my guy, Cheeto, my dog, but check out Dan Harrick studio art phone right now. Sorry you're following the Max number of accounts, so I gotta kick a couple of other accounts is what I'm trying to tell you. I told you that earlier is what happens. All I like that account. What that account is follow out. Let's see what they're doing. But you got it. So he's gonna I see him down here working.
00:54:54.390 --> 00:54:55.700 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah, right?
00:54:55.700 --> 00:55:19.990 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah, yes, this is awesome. I'll look at. I see this shirt that, says Simon said he, can give you maybe an alternate to your to your intro music. I would love to talk to him. What's his name?
00:55:20.190 --> 00:55:42.119 Tommy DiMisa: Hey, Jacob Harley! Check it out, man, listen! I would love to think. Look up a gr, a band called Revolution. Think about that song, son is shining by Bob Marley thing, and then think of the lyrics up. Join Tommy in his attic. See if you come. Actually, there should be a whole thing. I should get all the young musicians to try and send me something about like redoing the song and different things, and you know what it is
00:55:42.190 --> 00:55:49.550 Tommy DiMisa: I want to do like 12 different shows, anyway. So we need to show we need them. So for all the shows. Alright, we are out of time, because that's what happens on the show.
00:55:49.570 --> 00:56:15.890 Tommy DiMisa: You know what I told you so, Linda. I told you just about just about one week ago, 10 min shy of our conversation. One week ago, I said, Trust me, we're gonna be alright. We're gonna run out of time alright the website for the organization. I lost it because I've been looking at so many other different things. So it is ny milk bank.org nymilk. We need milk. We need money. We need relationships. We need connections, anything else that we need.
00:56:16.180 --> 00:56:45.680 Tommy DiMisa: II think that covers it. That's it. Well, listen. You can connect with my friend Linda Linda. I'm coming up for it for Linda. One last thing was going to ask you how big is the organization. You must have hundreds of employees. Right? Oh, yes, all 11 of them. Yes, they are amazing. I have the most amazing staff. 11 working dedicated staff. Thank you. 11 employees changing the world and saving lives. Okay, gang. The joke was, I knew she didn't have hundreds of employees. I didn't even need to ask. These are people. Is that why I hang out with? Come on now.
00:56:45.770 --> 00:57:10.729 Tommy DiMisa: lot of hats, you know I will love to wear hats, but that's not what this is about now, but people wear a lot of hats in this space, and we must support our nonprofits. Go out, volunteer. If you want me to come volunteer. Will you let me know where you're gonna mail? Come out? We'll do a little volunteer, and we'll record the thing, and 9 or 10 people will watch it. Listen, Linda, I appreciate you. Shout out to Heather Edwards shout out to Dr. Lina Edelstein, Dr. Lauren Macaluso, when I was showing some stuff I see.
00:57:10.730 --> 00:57:34.659 Tommy DiMisa: So Dr. Macaluso's office is one of the depots underneath it. If that's cool
00:57:34.660 --> 00:57:38.289 Tommy DiMisa: alright, we will be back in a week.
00:57:38.320 --> 00:57:43.020 Tommy DiMisa: Your boy, Tommy D, the nonprofit sector connector make it a great day. Everybody see you later, bye, Linda.
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