Overview
- Nikalie Monroe’s account grew from about 300 followers to more than 483,000 in two weeks as she posted recordings of calls to churches asking for infant formula.
- In a call to Houston’s Lakewood Church, a staffer described a benevolence process that could take days or weeks, and a spokesperson later said the operator erred by not directing her to partner resources.
- Lakewood says it does not hand out formula directly but supports 21 crisis pregnancy centers and 16 food pantries that stock it, according to spokesperson Donald Iloff.
- A West End Baptist Church receptionist in Clanton, Alabama, declined Monroe’s request, suggested contacting state agencies, and the clip drew more than 692,000 views and heavy criticism in comments.
- Reports note mixed responses across faith communities, including at least one mosque that offered help, while Baton Rouge pastor Bishop Raymond W. Johnson publicly condemned the experiment during a sermon.