It’s the season of giving, and your to-do list is likely filled with finding the perfect present for a loved one or pledging your end-of-year gift to an organization near and dear. But there’s another way to give to those in need that doesn’t require monetary support or even a large time commitment: Blood Assurance is urgently seeking the community’s support with blood donations this season.
Blood Assurance is a full-service blood care center with a brick-and-mortar location in Bellevue Plaza. Here, the team is eagerly accepting donations of blood and plasma from all blood types, and most all the donations collected in the area stay in the area.
“Blood is medicine, and there’s only one way to get it—it can’t be manufactured in a lab,” says Brooke Katz, media relations coordinator for Blood Assurance. “Without these donations, hospitals can’t meet the needs of people in emergency situations, surgeries, or cancer treatments.”
Most individuals over 18 (or 17 with parental consent) and in good health are eligible to donate. But though the majority of people are able to donate, only around three percent actually do. The holiday season is particularly slow for blood collection, as many donations come from area high schools.
“The holidays are the hardest time of year for us, but it’s also the season of giving,” says Katz. “What better gift to give than the gift of life? In 30-45 minutes, you could save a life and make a real difference.”
Brooke also adds that many people don’t think about the need for blood, and blood products, until they’re in an emergency situation themselves: you just hope that blood, a life-saving medicine, will be available.
“If everyone who understands the importance of blood donation committed to donating every 56 days, we wouldn’t face these shortages,” Katz says. “People often think about blood donation after mass tragedies, but routine donations make an ongoing, impactful difference.”
Blood Assurance does offer some perks to those willing to donate, launching special incentives throughout the year. For individuals with O-negative blood, which is the universal donor and is most commonly used as a first-line response in trauma cases, Blood Assurance has a special “Heart of Gold” club for consistent donors.
“We’re always doing little promotions,” Brooke says. “But the biggest gift you walk away with is knowing you’re saving someone’s life.”
In addition to standard blood collection, Blood Assurance is also seeking plasma and platelets, which are crucial treatments for cancer patients and trauma victims. Those donations take a bit longer – up to 90 minutes.
“A lot of people who regularly donate platelets have family members with cancer. They know firsthand how important it is and make it a habit,” says Katz. These specialized donations are “huge” for families dealing with cancer, she adds, especially for children in need of consistent platelet supplies.
For those unable to donate blood, Brooke says spreading the word and supporting the nonprofit on social media is also helpful.
“Follow us on social media, share our posts, and don’t be afraid to be vocal if you’ve had a blood transfusion in the past,” Brooke shares. “When I started posting about my own donations, friends reached out to say how much it meant to them, knowing that people out there are giving.”
As you’re finalizing your plans for annual giving and holiday gifting this season, consider swinging by our local Blood Assurance to give the ultimate gift: a no-cost and surprisingly quick donation that can save a life.
For more information and to keep up with special incentives, donation drives, and community resources, visit BloodAssurance.org.
“Blood is medicine, and there’s only one way to get it—it can’t be manufactured in a lab.”