Donors make annual News Channel MLK Day of Service Blood Drive once again a big success, helping boost local blood supplies
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The 7th Annual News Channel MLK Day of Service Blood Drive took place Monday in three locations in an effort to help boost and restock local blood supplies.
The event was once again a team effort with News Channel and Vitalant. Starting at 9 a.m., the drive kicked off at three Elks Lodge sites, in San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria and Goleta.
Over the course of six hours ending at 3 p.m. the Day of Service Blood Drive helped refill local blood supplies, which yearly fall to lower levels at the start of the new year after the holidays.
"It's a great feeling," said Ingrid Pires of Pismo Beach soon after donating blood at the San Luis Obispo Elks Lodge. "It means so much to people to have blood available, and if we don't give, they don't have the blood available, so we're each called on to do our part, and this is one very small way that we can do our part. It's a small activity that gives big results."
The goal was to reach at least 100 donations across the three sites. Mercurio reported the drive had exceeded that amount with 117 collections made at the three Elks Lodge locations.
The Santa Barbara Elks Lodge brought in 55 units of blood, following by San Luis Obispo with 37 and Santa Maria with 25.
Mercurio added the 117 donations collected through the blood drive has the potential to save 351 lives.
"It's just incredible feeling," said Beau Mercurio, Vitalant Account Manager. "It just warms our hearts and our team to just to see the people come in. It's a difficult time of the year to get blood supply and get people to go out and donate, so this is a very, very important event to start the year off on the right track."
This year's drive marked the first time ever the Elks have held the annual event. Previously, the drive has always taken place at local Vitalant blood centers.
"Having all three of the Elks participate now is is really cool because it brings the whole community from the two counties together," said Steve Cadenasso, San Luis Obispo Elks Lodge Blood Drive Coordinator. "It's really neat and it's a good way of giving back and donating blood always helps out."
Donors also pointed out blood drive not only helps the community, but can be an enjoyable experience, despite many have a negative feeling about needles.
"It's a big bugaboo in the minds of some people, but it doesn't have to be, said Pires. "I think people don't know how much fun it is to give blood. You can have wonderful conversations with the nurses as you're giving blood, and it might be you telling the stories. It might be them telling the stories, but it's really another way to connect. Before you know it, it's all over, and they're cleaning you up. So, you know, it's a big bugaboo in the minds of some people, but it doesn't have to be. It's great."
While the News Channel MLK Day of Service Blood Drive is now over, for those that would still like to donate and weren't able to make it out, there are plenty of more opportunities coming up all across the area in the near future.
"We almost have a blood drive happening daily throughout the Central Coast," said Mercurio. "You can check out the schedule on vitalant.org and just put in your your zip code and find out what's happening in the upcoming months. We are booking blood drives really from northern LA all the way up to the Monterey and Salinas area. There's something for everybody. We try to make it as convenient as possible. You can go in our centers which are basically seven days a week everywhere with either a blood drive or the center. We have one in Santa Maria. Weh have one San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura, so plenty of places to get out there and donate."
For more information about Vitalant or to find a local blood drive, click here to reach the official Vitalant website.
