Third Strand is a non-profit organization (501c3) established in 2016 with a mission to provide safe donor breast milk to nursing infants who have tragically lost their mothers, to babies whose mothers are unable to breastfeed due to cancer or other life-threatening illnesses, and to adopted newborns.
The inspiration for Third Strand began in September 2016, when Kalee Joy-Barton unexpectedly passed away the night she brought her newborn son home. She left behind a husband, a young daughter, and her infant son. In the days following, mothers from across the Texas Panhandle came together, donating over forty gallons of breast milk for Baby Cru, a testament to their compassion and generosity.
To ensure the safety of these donations, the family consulted doctors and was referred to a milk bank in Fort Worth, Texas, specializing in donor milk for sick and premature infants in hospitals. The milk bank proposed exchanging one gallon of safe donor milk for the forty gallons the family had received and offered to sell additional milk at $7.00 per ounce, making the cost of replacing the donated milk exceed $30,000.
Unwilling to accept this arrangement, the family searched nationwide for a program that could provide safe donor breast milk to infants who had lost their mothers. To their surprise, none existed.
True to the resilient spirit of the Texas Panhandle, Third Strand was founded to fill this gap, becoming the first and only nonprofit to offer safe donor breast milk to families at no cost.
Being a pioneer allowed Third Strand to shape its own story. While the initial aim was to feed babies who had lost their mothers, the organization’s reach quickly expanded. In 2017, Third Strand provided milk to its first recipient: an adopted newborn girl. The next infant served was unable to be breastfed due to the mother’s cancer treatments. In 2018 Third Strand supported a baby whose mother died during labor.
Third Strand has nourished hundreds of babies across the United States, distributing over $2,000,000 worth of safe donor breast milk in nearly every state. In 2025, Third Strand partnered with Milkify, becoming the world’s first nonprofit milk bank to distribute freeze-dried donor breast milk at no cost. This innovation allows families to receive shelf-stable donor milk without the need for freezing.
Third Strand stands as a living legacy to Kalee Joy-Barton, paying forward the love and generosity once shown to her child. Beyond providing milk, Third Strand seeks to encourage and inspire through the stories of the families it serves, reflecting God’s faithfulness and power.
Despite challenges, Third Strand continues to support families during life’s storms, at no cost to them, thanks to the generosity of individuals and organizations who believe in its mission.
Third Strand is led by Founder and Executive Director Kyle Joy, alongside a Board of Directors including Lindsey Risdon (Lubbock, TX), Jacob Eubank (Abernathy, TX), Vivian Mijeras (Plano, TX), and Andrea Young (Clovis, NM). To learn more, visit www.ThirdStrand.foundation.
100 Women Who Care in the Texas Panhandle is pleased to announce a donation of $17,200 to Third Strand, supporting their vital mission of providing safe donor breast milk to infants in need. This generous gift was celebrated at a special Donation Celebration held on October 28th at the Buffalo Grass Music Hall.
Through the collective efforts of 100 Women Who Care in the Texas Panhandle, women from across the area are showcasing the remarkable impact of unified giving. Together, these women exemplify generosity and camaraderie, demonstrating that when we join forces, our capacity to create meaningful change in the community is multiplied.
Our organization’s commitment speaks volumes, when women unite, we are truly stronger together. To learn more about 100 Women Who Care in the Texas Panhandle, please visit our website at texaspanhandlewwc.com. We invite you to join us at our next meeting, scheduled for January 11, 2026.
