Blood Center East Texas asks area businesses to hold drives

The Blood Center East Texas is facing a need for 2,000 additional units of blood this year as blood usage dramatically rises at the eight local hospitals it serves. That means 170 more donors must donate every month in 2008 than in 2007 to ensure patients receive the blood on which their lives depend.

All businesses in Angelina, Polk, Nacogdoches, San Augustine, Shelby and Sabine counties are encouraged to become life-saving partners with The Blood Center by holding blood drives this year. A majority of donations are made at community blood drives, which allow donors to give at times and places that are most convenient for them. Hosting businesses work with an experienced consultant to recruit donors and execute a successful drive.

Currently, The Blood Center is recruiting smaller companies to participate in "stacked" drives in which a donor coach is brought to the business for four hours and then moved to another business for another four hours. However, businesses both large and small are asked to help save lives and take part in blood drives.

Any organization interested in this life-saving opportunity to help increase the local blood supply may call Judy Sheffield in Lufkin at 936- 634-2116.

For more information, visit www.givebloodet.org or call 1-888- 433-1733.