The best food for a baby is almost always their parent's own milk. When that's not possible, pasteurized donor human milk from a certified milk bank is especially important. Every drop counts when it comes to nourishing premature babies. On World Prematurity Day (November 17), we celebrate the tiny fighters in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) and the big-hearted donors who help them thrive.
That's where Liquid Goldie comes in—a cheerful nickname for donor human milk, first used in our story: Human milk donation: Liquid Goldie's big adventure. Using adorable pictures, this past story shares how milk moves from donor all the way to recipient.
On April 1, 2025, Ksyen Regional Hospital opened a collection depot in Terrace, BC. Since then, a small and mighty team has been working behind the scenes to help Liquid Goldie continue to reach babies who need it most across the province.
Making it all possible
Nurses, unit clerks, and support staff in Terrace, play an essential role at the collection depot—from receiving donations (from approved donors) to storing and shipping them with care. Lori McGinlay, Clinical Nurse Educator for NICU, is one of those behind-the-scenes heroes. Lori manages the shipping process, ensuring that Liquid Goldie makes its way to BC Women's Hospital Milk Bank in Vancouver.
The new birthing unit opened at Ksyen Regional Hospital in 2024, and the future NICU offered the perfect space to set up a depot. With a dedicated freezer already on site, and Lori's experience of 18 years working in the NICU at the University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC) in Prince George, the Terrace team was well positioned to jump right in and open the depot.
They're helping to make human milk donation easier for families across the North. Before they opened, Northern Health only had one collection depot, in Prince George at the UHNBC NICU. What a gift to now have two! It's important to mention that UHNBC is currently the only donor human milk dispensary in the North—Terrace isn’t currently able to dispense donor milk to local babies.
Celebrating the generous donors
Since opening, three batches of Liquid Goldie have made their way from Terrace to the provincial milk bank. This was made possible by more behind-the-scenes heroes—approved donors who are donating their extra milk. Together, three generous donors contributed 42,756 millilitres (mL)! To put that into perspective:
- 30 mL = 1 fluid ounce
- That's approximately 1,425 ounces of donated milk
- This totals to approximately 475 ounces per approved donor—wow!
Every ounce helps babies in need. Some donations carry a special kind of meaning—like when a family receives donor human milk for their baby and returns to give back to the most vulnerable babies. Their gesture is a beautiful reminder of how generosity can come full circle. We thank all the donors across Northern BC for their time, energy, and care.
Raising awareness in Terrace and beyond
Locals in Terrace are learning about the depot through community outreach and creative communication strategies. Social media is helping spread the word, and posters have also been popping up all around town—at the hospital, supermarkets, libraries, and the pool—promoting the gift of human milk donation.
Lori and her team are exploring more ways to raise awareness. Soon, you might see digital ads in the local emergency department to help Liquid Goldie catch more eyes in Terrace. Let us know if you have ideas to help!
Getting involved too
Communities like Terrace and Prince George are helping to lead the way—making it easier to get donor human milk to premature, sick, and very tiny babies in Northern BC and beyond. Whether it’s donating milk, sharing a poster, or simply starting a conversation in your community, you can be a behind-the-scenes hero too!
Check out BC Women's Hospital Milk Bank website to:
- Learn how to donate milk
- Read the Milk Bank News
- Watch these milk bank videos
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