Austin-Based We Are Blood Marks World Blood Donor Day With Call To Save Lives

AUSTIN, TX — As far as we know, Hallmark doesn't make a line of cards for World Blood Donor Day to be observed this coming Wednesday. Yet absent such greeting cards, there's no better way to honor the day than to donate blood.

Officials at We Are Blood are gearing up to commemorate the observance to remind residents how important it is to have a robust local blood supply on hand. The blood bank saves lives each day in Central Texas by providing blood and platelets at more than 40 medical facilities in its 10-county region, including the local Seton and St. David's hospital systems.

Side note: If you missed the news, We Are Blood is the new name of the The Blood and Tissue Center of Central Texas. It's the latest iteration for an organization with humble beginnings in 1951 under the name Travis County Medical Society Blood Bank.

But back to the present day. To celebrate World Blood Donor Day all month long, We Are Blood officials will be giving everyone who comes in to donate at any donor center or mobile drive a We Are Blood t-shirt. And, starting on Wednesday, June 14, they’ll also be giving away JuiceLand discount cards through the weekend or until supplies last.

We Are Blood officials have launched a full court press on social media to get the word out. There are requisite hashtags involved in this effort, including #weareblood #typelocal #WorldBloodDay.

The work of We Are Blood often occurs behind the scenes, known only those following their updates and their donors. But they're at the forefront when blood is desperately needed both in Central Texas and beyond. When 49 people lost their lives at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando one year ago today, some of We Are Blood's supply was used to help save the lives of those injured in joining other blood banks nationwide rising to the occasion in assisting victims.

Yet the life-saving mission is year-round. As Central Texas has grown, so too has the blood bank in saving lives locally. We Are Blood operates three donor centers locally: In North Austin at 4300 N. Lamar Blvd.; in South Austin at 3100 W. Slaughter Lane; and in Round Rock at 2132 N. Mays, Suite 900. To make an appointment online click here to make an appointment online or schedule an appointment over the phone for a blood donation at (512) 206-1266 or for platelets at (512) 206-1231.

Organized by the World Health Organization, the upcoming World Blood Donor Day this year focuses its campaign on blood needed in emergencies. On its website, WHO offers some compelling statistics related to blood donations, including:

• 112.5 million112.5 million blood donations are collected globally, half of these are in high-income countries.
• 1%Blood donation by 1% of the population can meet a nation’s most basic requirements for blood.
• 57 countries57 countries collect 100% of their blood supply from voluntary, unpaid blood donors.

>>> Images courtesy of We Are Blood