Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson East helps mothers connect in a baby formula exchange
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Olympic gold medalist, champion gymnast, winner on “Dancing of the Stars” and mother Shawn Johnson East wants to ensure that mothers who need baby formula connect. The West Des Moines native announced a new website she created with her husband Andrew East to help mothers in need of infant formula and those who have formula to share get in touch.
Parents nationwide struggle to located formula during this shortage, which only got worse in recent weeks when the Abbott Nutrition manufacturing facility temporarily closed in Sturgis, Michigan. That closure came after a voluntarily recall of three types of infant formula after four babies became sick with bacteria infections after consuming the products, according to USA Today.
By late April, Iowa reported shortages of more than 50 percent, one of the highest rates in the nation.
Johnson East — who won gold in the balance beam and silvers for team, all-around and floor exercise in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing — launched the website Baby Formula Exchange with her husband via an announcement on her Instagram page.
She personally found it difficult to locate formula for her 10-month-old son Jett.
"So last week I was trying to refill Jett's formula and I wasn't able to find it anywhere," Johnson said. "A friend of a friend actually connected me to her friend in Pittsburgh and she was able to find and ship it to me," she said on Instagram. That exchange inspired the sharing website.
More: Baby formula shortage worsens: About 40% of popular brands sold out across US
The program is free and easy to use. Mothers in search of formula can post what type they need. Mothers with extra, unopened formula that hasn’t expired can post what they have and whether they are willing to ship it for free. The two sides can then connect.
Johnson East gave birth to Jett James East last July. He joined sister Drew, age 2.
More: Shawn Johnson East reveals baby boy's name: 'We are still over the moon'
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa native Shawn Johnson helps mothers share baby formula
