Health care
BY JULIANNA WASHBURN
In 2024, the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center saw:
433,506 lives saved
139,347 total donors
322,571 total units donated
533 volunteers
SOURCE: GULF COAST REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER COMMUNITY IMPACT
Local donor centers in Katy
10
90
10
Katy
1463
Donor Marsha Asplin celebrates a milestone of 1,600 units, or 200 gallons of blood, donated over the 42 years she has volunteered with Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center celebrates 50-year milestone about how our blood products help their child get through their leukemia treatment,” Pina said. Two-minute impact COURTESY GULF COAST REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER
99 TOLL
1093
Fulshear
N
The Houston-based community blood center serves 170 hospitals and health care facilities in a 26-county area, according to the center’s website. One blood donation can help up to three people, Pina said, and to meet the community’s needs, the center needs about 1,000 donations a day. Looking ahead Pina said the organization is now working to encourage donations, since they can drop by almost 7% over the summer season. Pina said
neighborhood donor centers will expand their hours, and the center will hold mobile blood drives. One more thing Pina said the center is also looking at putting a greater focus on the contributions to research and opening a new building across the street from its headquarters to serve as the new donor room. Pina said the new donor building will open this year.
Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, a nonpro t blood center founded in January 1975, celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. Theresa Pina, chief growth o cer for Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, said with the new milestone came memories of impactful testimonies. “I get to hear the stories from moms that talk
ILTexas.org | Free Public Charter
14
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook