PALMDALE – The City of Palmdale will host a blood drive this coming Tuesday, March 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Poncitlán Square, located on 9th Street East, between Avenues Q-9 and Q-10.
“For this drive, all blood donations will go to Providence Health and Services, a non-profit Catholic hospital organization,” said Administrative Technician and Blood Drive Coordinator Kathy Inman. “They collect blood for their Southern California hospitals, including Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, which has the second largest privately-owned Trauma center in Los Angeles County. Many Antelope Valley residents are brought to Holy Cross in Mission Hills because of the trauma center.”
All donors will receive a coupon good for a free pint of Baskin-Robbins ice cream.
Other Southern California hospitals that are supported by Providence Health and Services include Saint Joseph’s in Burbank, Tarzana Medical Center, Little Company of Mary in Torrance and San Pedro, and, soon, Saint John’s in Santa Monica.
“Everyone who uses these facilities are served regardless of religion or ability to pay,” Inman said. “The donations that are collected go directly to their patients rather than purchasing blood from one of the other companies.”
“The need for blood is constant and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community,” added Inman. “To make a donation, please call me at 267-5229 and I’ll reserve a spot for you,” said Inman.
Each year, the City of Palmdale hosts three blood drives as part of its employee wellness program. In 2013, City of Palmdale employees and residents combined to donate 76 pints of blood to the American Red Cross.
“According to the statistics, for every pint of blood donated, three lives can be saved,” Inman said.
For more information about Providence, please visit www.providence.org/california.
Jen says
Donating blood is such a selfless, generous way to help your community!! I would just never ever donate my time and blood to an “organization” that is only out for the money. They get over $700 each unit of blood and overhead costs are no where near that! I now donate my blood to the children’s hospital who uses the blood you donate to help save sick kids for free! The blood devision of the American Redcross is extremely greedy and very much like hungry vampires.
Jamie DeVriend says
We need more people donating blood! I get happy every time I see blood drives because I hope to see more and more people participating. We need to save more lives!