TOPPENISH —Thirteen first-time donors took part in the fourth annual Washington State Children’s Family Services blood drive on Friday, June 12 at the Nations Foursquare Church in Toppenish. The Toppenish office sponsored the event, which is a division of Children and Family Services.
This is the first year the event took place outside the group’s office.
“Before we always had the event in a blood mobile van,” said Su Bixler, who helped coordinate this year’s blood drive. “This is much better. There is more room and the chairs are easier to be in when donating.”
Bixler noted this year’s event included several walk-in participants in addition to the 13 first-time donors.
According to JayAnn Merkle, Yakima area territory representative and donor recruitment for the American Red Cross, the group had 24 donors, just short of its 30-unit goal.
“Having so many first-time donors showed how they really reached out to the community to promote the event,” Merkle said. “They did a really good job.”
Blood bank technicians are able to utilize a single unit of blood to help up to three potential patients.
“Those 24 units have the potential of saving 72 other lives,” Merkle said.
She added the Pacific Northwest Region hosts four or five blood drives each day to meet the needs of local hospitals in the Region’s service area.
The next blood drive in area will be Tuesday, June 23 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Zillah Faith Church, 300 W. Centennial. To schedule an appointment for the Zillah blood drive, call 1-800-448-3543.