HONOLULU (KHON2) — Many still struggle to get their hands on infant formula despite efforts to bring it from overseas to the United States.

A local mother is taking matters into her own hands to help others find much-needed formula.

Difficulty finding formula for two-month-old Leila never crossed the mind of Ewa Beach’s mother, Jessica Pauls, when she was pregnant.

Pauls had planned to breastfeed until her doctors warned her not to for medical reasons.

“I was already really upset about it, like everything, then walking into the store and seeing, ‘Okay, I don’t really have a lot of options.'”

Pauls was familiar with Facebook groups on the mainland where people share dates, times and store locations where the formula became available. She asked her friends if they would like a similar group on Oahu.

“But of course it was on the mainland and then how crazy is the shipping,” Pauls said. “So on this moms group I’m in, I posted, I was like, ‘Oh, would anyone be interested?

The Oahu Formula Search group now has more than 100 members and they help each other find formula.

“And so I realized that was pretty helpful, and even I’m still going, obviously, for me, too,” Pauls said.

Local pediatrician Dr Theresa Wee said it will still be some time before local shelves are fully replenished.

“The shelves are still empty, I just heard from the rep for Mead Johnson,” Dr. Wee said. “I’ve been told it takes about six to eight weeks before we really have any formulas in stock.”

Oahu Formula Finder is not for reselling formula – Pauls said it is a family networking site and nothing else.

“The sharing and this kindness and this love is like all we need right now because it’s just a very difficult situation to be in right now,” Pauls said.

Dr. We sounded the same and asked people not to get greedy if they found their formula.

“But the most important thing is if you find your formula, don’t store it, you know, buy maybe 10-14 days, but save it for other families as well,” Dr. Wee said.