Suncoast Blood Centers CEO Scott Bush noted in a news release that the blood bank inventory is at its lowest level in a decade. Only 3% of the eligible donor population are coming in to give the gift of life, which makes the shortage of product a real concern,” he added.
That response rate may not even prove to be the nadir for the nonprofit but it does reflect a troubling trend.
Decline in donor population
Twenty years ago, Leonard said, roughly 15% of the population donated blood.
The most recent decline can be traced to mid-March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down businesses and schools where blood bank mobile units could routinely visit for connect with willing donors.
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Donation sites:
Lakewood Ranch Donor Center: 3025 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Suite 111, Bradenton FL 34211 (behind Crowder Bros. Ace Hardware)
Sarasota: 1760 Mound Street, Sarasota, FL 34236
Venice: Bird Bay Plaza, 539 US Hwy 41 Bypass, North Venice, FL 34285
Bradenton: Bayshore Shopping Center, 6026 14th Street, W. Bradenton, FL 34207
Port Charlotte: 2150 Tamiami Trail, Suite 17, Port Charlotte, FL 33948
Mobile Pop Up Location: Sarasota Square Mall- 8201 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite A30, Sarasota, FL 34238
Did you know?
• SunCoast Blood Centers is a not-for-profit, independent, locally-operated blood bank that directly serves and saves the people of our region.
• SunCoast Blood Centers recently celebrated its 70th anniversary of providing a safe and reliable source of blood products and services to patients in need. Today, the organization holds more than 1,000 blood drives annually and collects more than 40,000 units of blood, a feat it largely attributes to the generosity of it
Donation sites:
Lakewood Ranch Donor Center: 3025 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Suite 111, Bradenton FL 34211 (behind Crowder Bros. Ace Hardware)
Sarasota: 1760 Mound Street, Sarasota, FL 34236
Venice: Bird Bay Plaza, 539 US Hwy 41 Bypass, North Venice, FL 34285
Bradenton: Bayshore Shopping Center, 6026 14th Street, W. Bradenton, FL 34207
Port Charlotte: 2150 Tamiami Trail, Suite 17, Port Charlotte, FL 33948
Mobile Pop Up Location: Sarasota Square Mall- 8201 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite A30, Sarasota, FL 34238
Did you know?
• SunCoast Blood Centers is a not-for-profit, independent, locally-operated blood bank that directly serves and saves the people of our region.
• SunCoast Blood Centers recently celebrated its 70th anniversary of providing a safe and reliable source of blood products and services to patients in need. Today, the organization holds more than 1,000 blood drives annually and collects more than 40,000 units of blood, a feat it largely attributes to the generosity of it
Local blood centers urge people to donate due to severe weather across the United States
SunCoast Blood Centers needs donors
Extreme weather has impacted the ability for many blood centers to collect life-saving blood products.
and last updated 2021-02-19 23:34:33-05
SARASOTA, FLA.- â Extreme weather has impacted the ability for many blood centers to collect life-saving blood products.
SunCoast Blood Centers is asking people, age 16 or older, to donate now to meet critical needs both locally and for states affected by severe winter weather. We reached about 20 different emails from blood centers across the country asking for help. The winter weather especially in Texas has prevented those centers from collecting blood, said Joan Leonard, a Community Liaison at SunCoast Blood Centers.