Katy NDC Requests Community Support

Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center seeks volunteers to help save lives

KATY – Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center has one mission — to save and sustain lives — and community advocates and volunteers help make that happen every day.

The Katy Neighborhood Donor Center needs help.

“Katy once had a vibrant group of volunteers, but we’ve seen participation drop over the last two years,” said Marc Lewis, vice president of operations for The Blood Center. “We know Katy has a tremendous sense of community and are appealing to residents to help us save lives in their community.

The next Katy special event is set for March 18, and The Blood Center is seeking volunteers who want to start dedicating their time to the center’s mission.

Community advocates host quarterly special events and get the word out in local neighborhoods about The Blood Center and the importance of donating blood.

They are key to The Blood Center’s success in communities throughout the 26-county coverage area. Advocates are focused on increasing the number of new donors at neighborhood donor centers and looking for opportunities to educate their neighbors about the Commit for Life program at Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. Community advocates also host quarterly special events at their dedicated center.

Other volunteer opportunities include providing customer service at blood drives, sharing a personal story about blood donation through The Blood Center’s speakers’ bureau and providing office assistance (at least twice a week) at a Neighborhood Donor Center.

The three steps of the Commit for Life volunteer program are: volunteer frequently, connect with the blood center and spread the word about how others can save lives.

Volunteers between the ages of 12 and 14 must be accompanied by a trained parent or guardian; those between ages 15 and 17 can volunteer with parental consent.

An hourlong training orientation is required for all first-time volunteers, and those interested should email volunteering@giveblood.org to schedule a time for one-on-one training.

The Katy Neighborhood Donor Center is at 1575 S. Grand Parkway, Suite 600. For more information about The Blood Center, visit www.giveblood.org.

The Blood Center is the primary supplier of blood components to more than 170 hospitals and health care facilities in a 26-county Texas Gulf Coast region.