PHOTO COURTESY OF BEVERLY’S PGH

As Megs Yunn leads me through the headquarters of Beverly’s PGH in North Huntingdon, we are dwarfed by towering metal shelves lined with toys, diapers, clothing, books and other childhood essentials.

It’s the most adorable and welcoming warehouse I’ve ever seen, complete with an event space and cozy lactation lounge. In the parking lot, Pennsylvania’s first-ever mobile infant formula bank is stocked and ready to roll.

Yunn, the founder, executive director and mother of four, eyes a hillside by the 10,000-square-foot building. She’s already thinking about another expansion. This organization is her other baby, after all, and it’s growing up fast.

In 2011, Yunn met a girl named Beverly who said no one had ever thrown her a birthday party, or even baked her a cake. That heartbreaking conversation launched Beverly’s Birthdays, an organization that partnered with social service agencies and low-income school districts to arrange birthday bashes for homeless kids and families in need.

The nonprofit, which was rebranded as Beverly’s PGH in 2024, continues to celebrate birthdays as it advocates for the youngest members of the community. Through Aug. 31, 2025, the mission is to raise $100,000, distribute more than 20,000 essential items, enable families to “shop” on the roving Basics Boutique and supply thousands of babies with formula and lactation assistance.

In 2022, Beverly’s launched the Greater Pittsburgh Infant Formula Bank, a bridge-based support service that has seven brick-and-mortar locations throughout Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Formula, Yunn says, isn’t an item typically carried by the organization’s food pantry partners. The cost for one standard can is $27. It’s covered by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Beverly’s satellite banks are stocked with brands such as Similac, Enfamil and Gerber in powder, liquid and concentrate forms. Supplies are purchased directly from manufacturers and retailers. Donations of new, unopened, unexpired formula can be dropped off at all sites. If people are looking for a specific type of formula, they should contact the bank before visiting to get a rundown of the current inventory.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BEVERLY’S PGH

Last August, the Babies in the Burgh truck, dubbed “Babs,” hit the road to bring free formula, breastfeeding supplies, clothing and hygiene items to food- and transportation-deserts across Southwestern PA. There’s also a lactation consultant on board to answer questions and offer advice to new and expecting moms. A complete schedule and more information is available online or by calling 724-590-5106. To receive free assistance, you must have an active cell phone number that’s able to receive text messages.

The Greater Pittsburgh Infant Formula Bank follows the client/child from the date of the child’s first service to their first birthday. A family can visit any of the formula banks, but the client /child can receive only 12 standard cans of infant formula or the liquid equivalent per year and no more than one standard can per visit. A visit is defined as one service within 24 hours.

So far, Babs has helped feed 3,500 babies.

With its colorful design and built-in service window, Babs looks more like an ice cream truck than a rolling service center. Since every woman’s birth plan is unique, Yunn wanted the vehicle to exude acceptance and hope.

I wish I would’ve known Darla Sherlock, a 2024 Pittsburgh Magazine 40 Under 40 Honoree, when I was a stressed new mom struggling to put some weight on a hungry, 5-pound baby. Beverly PGH’s senior director of programming is a certified doula and a board member of Postpartum Pittsburgh, a nonprofit that supports postpartum mental health.

In March, the organization conducted a survey that included 539 moms — 38% felt judged for how they chose to feed their baby.

“That is too many to feel that way,” Sherlock says. “We ask ‘How can we support you with your feeding journey so you can make an informed choice and pivot if you need to?’ If we can create a space to support families and recognize that, at the end of the day, your mental health is what matters most.”

Beverly’s PGH helps people navigate the insurance system, and, through community connections, finds additional resources. As an organization, Beverly PGH’s was built to grow right along with baby’s needs, from prenatal care to birthday celebrations.

“We’ve carved out a place where we fit in the large hug that is maternal health care,” Yunn says. “There’s a never-ending need. People who have benefitted from the program are giving back.”