San Diego Blood Bank expanding to meet the need for lifesaving blood

Expanding to Meet the Need for Lifesaving Blood

Every 2 seconds, someone needs blood. With your partnership, San Diego Blood Bank (SDBB) can ensure blood is on the shelves for local patients in need.

As the need for blood increases, so does the need for SDBB to expand its reach in the community to ensure a robust blood supply to Southern California. The new Clairemont Mesa Donor Center, currently operating as a temporary donor location, will open permanently in Fall 2024.

Clairemont Mesa Donor Center will be SDBB’s second largest location, capable of welcoming hundreds of blood donors each month and enabling them to increase their blood collection to meet the growing demand. You can help fund this critical expansion and ensure a reliable and sustainable blood supply for those who depend on it most.

Blood transfusions are among the most common procedures in U.S. hospitals, with over 17.9 million conducted annually. Remarkably, more than 5% of patients receive these life-saving transfusions. Every year, more than 150,000 units of blood provided by SDBB are delivered to hospital partners and transfused into patients of all ages, socio-economic, and ethnic backgrounds throughout Southern California. These patients are struggling with life-threatening medical conditions including cancer and other blood disorders, severe burns, organ transplants, emergency surgery, trauma, childbirth complications and more.

Quincy, for example, received multiple blood transfusions and a bone marrow transplant from his brother Reece to treat Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Today he is cancer-free. Pictured with Reece and his parents and the family now advocates for blood donations.

Regular transfusions are a lifeline for those with Sickle Cell Disease, which significantly affects African American and Hispanic communities. Selina, pictured , suffers from sickle cell anemia and receives monthly blood exchanges to replace sickle-shaped cells with healthy red cells. Thanks to blood and financial donors, she lives a good life.

Your support is crucial to ensure a robust blood supply for patients like Quincy and Selina. By partnering with SDBB, you can make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of the community. Your financial gift, no matter the size, can provide hope to those in need of transfusions.

SDBB’s nine donor locations have become landmarks for the nearly 60,000 altruistic volunteer blood donors who generously give the gift of life. Prior to donating blood, all prospective blood donors receive a health screening, including blood pressure, iron, and cholesterol checks. On occasion, serious medical conditions have been detected through this screening process, alerting the donors, and enabling them to seek medical attention.

Altogether, SDBB donor centers are responsible for collecting 50% of the region’s vital blood supply. Blood collected at the new Clairemont Mesa Donor Center will assist with the increasing demand for blood resources and help save patients’ lives throughout Southern California.

To make a financial gift, you are invited to visit www.sandiegobloodbank.org/give or contact Cherryl Castro-Lector, Director of Development, at (619) 400-8214. SDBB also welcomes corporate support in achieving their mission.

Quincy with his brother Reece and family

Smiling face of Selina standing in the stadium