Skip to content
Jayhawks Give Back

KU alumna helps parents find baby formula during shortage

What started as one alumna’s personal quest to help friends and family locate baby formula has turned into an online community group helping dozens of Lawrence-area parents.

In May, Abby Corrin, s’15, started the Lawrence Baby Formula Connection Facebook group to help Lawrence-area parents locate baby formula during the nationwide shortage. Corrin, a social worker, began by documenting the kind of formula her friends and family used. She would buy a few cans if she found them at a store.

“As a parent, you want nothing more than to be able to provide for the basic needs of your child,” Corrin said. “When something as critical as food is not available, it’s desperate. The community honestly has no choice but to rally and offer any kind of support.”

Corrin felt she could expand her efforts outside of her friends and family. She posted on a local mom’s group to see if others in the community needed help.

“The response I got was honestly overwhelming,” Corrin said.

Abby Corrin, her husband and daughter, Gemma

Dozens of parents, older siblings and even grandparents replied to her post, wanting to be added to her list. After noticing such widespread community need, Corrin started her own Facebook group.

The group — which has 260 members — connects parents who post their needs with community members who contribute photos of what’s available in formula aisles at area stores. The Facebook page is still active as the need is ongoing and the shortage continues.

“There’s still a gap,” Corrin said. “We’re hoping that it will continue in this upward trajectory where moms don’t have to look so hard for the formulas they need. But right now, we still have people struggling.”

With a toddler and a baby due soon, Corrin herself didn’t need formula during the shortage — she organized the group to help her community.

“My mom always raised me with the motto that if you can help, you should help,” Corrin said, “And I could.”

“It was really empowering to see Lawrence come together in the way that it did to support these families. I knew that Lawrence would. I never once doubted that the Lawrence community was not going to step up for these families. But they showed up brilliantly.”

Our Jayhawks Give Back program, presented by Andrew Wymore, Realtor, celebrates ’Hawks who are making a difference in ways big and small. Each quarter, we’ll feature a member of the KU family and their story. If you know a Jayhawk who should be featured in Jayhawks Give Back, let us know!

— Rylie Koester

More News

Copy the Leader: Myltin Bighorn

Talking leadership with Myltin Bighorn, MA student in Sport Management and Co-Founder of Shades of
Read More

Driving with Jayhawks: Brian Hanni

Brian Hanni, j’02 shares his preparation for broadcasting KU games, being named the 2023 NSMA
Read More

The Galapagos Islands: A Living Museum 

"Those who had been there before said the wildlife is truly remarkable and that photos
Read More

Welcome to the University of Kansas Alumni Association

Your membership in the KU Alumni Association is the single most powerful way to make all of KU stronger, including the value of your own degree. Through your membership, the Association: