Amid shortage, Wichita moms in search of baby formula turn to social media

Parents in Wichita are using social media to find ways to feed their children amid the baby formula shortage that has left baby food shelves nearly bare across the nation.

A quick search on Facebook brings up dozens of groups created by parents from across the country. In these groups, parents ask for help finding baby formula in stores and also provide assistance if they have formula to spare.

Errin Moore, the administrator of the page Wichita Formula Finders — which has 302 members and counting — was more prepared than most were when the shelves began to empty. Abbott Labratories closed down in February following an investigation surrounding three of its baby formulas causing infant illness.

“My husband has really kept an eye on the things that are going on in the country. And actually, in January, he said, ‘There’s going to be a formula shortage. We need to prepare,’” Moore said.

Moore and her husband then went to Costco and stocked up on baby formula. They were careful not to hoard. They bought what they knew they would need.

Alexa Blackburn was not as prepared. Blackburn, a mom of four with a baby born in April, said the shortage has been scary for her family.

“I mean you go to the store and it’s like, ‘Well, our son can only have this specific kind, and it’s completely out,’” Blackburn said. “And so we tried different kinds, you know, it’s supposed to be the same thing but different brand. … He couldn’t eat it. He would completely spit it up.

“Being in that position, it sucks. It’s really scary.”

A couple months after Moore stocked up she started noticing the empty shelves. Then she saw her friend Blackburn post a call for help on Facebook, Moore said. That’s when she got the idea to start the formula finders page.

“Errin, who started the Facebook group, contacted me and so she and I talked about that when she started,” Blackburn said. “Just trying to keep an eye out for, you know, other moms.”

Personally, Moore had collected multiple samples from her doctors. Through the page, she was able to give formula to moms in need.

“The different samples I got were of no use to me and so I was able to pass those on to another mom that needed them and, you know, to see all these people just doing that is really encouraging,” Moore said.

Blackburn said being a member of the group has been vital.

“It has been very helpful because, you know, everybody knows somebody else,” Blackburn said. “And so even if that person might not have what you need, they might know somebody else who has it and then those people reach out to you.

“It’s really helpful to just … getting the word out and just making [it] known that, like, there are lots of other people out there willing to help.”

Moore said that seeing the sense of community has been beautiful.

“Honestly, I think it’s a beautiful thing that people are, you know, all these strangers coming together to say, ‘Hey, I’ve got this, does anyone need it?’” she said.

The Wichita formula Facebook groups are public and anyone can become a member. Another group based in Wichita is called Formula Finders! Wichita and has 794 members.