American Red Cross blood drive held at Veterans Building

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A Community Blood Drive drew dozens of donors to an American Red Cross at the Veterans Memorial Building in Hollister on Feb. 6.

Adrianna Rogers, who participated in the Red Cross event, said the organization holds drives five days a week at various locations, including churches, community centers, and halls.

“We come to Hollister once a month,” she said. “We come here (the Vets Building) and to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Today, we had 79 people on the appointment list.”

The blood collection device the Red Cross uses is a Haemonetics MCS+ (Mobile Collection System). Rogers said it was a “Power Red” machine, meaning it only collects red blood cells.

“It takes about 15-20 minutes longer than the regular donation,” she said, “This does get to the community faster. Maybe one to three days versus the five to seven for the whole blood.”

For more information about blood donation, call 1-800-REDCROSS.

Donors have to have O-, O+, A-, and B- blood types, she said, and there are different height and weight requirements for men and women.

When the blood is collected, it is prepared for use in hospitals after being tested in San Leandro and processed in Pomona.

Many people at the drive said they have had positive experiences donating blood as a way to give back to the community.

Hollister resident Carine Salazar said she has been doing it every year since 2015 as a constant thing since she was in high school.

“I encourage people to do it if they can,” Salazar said, “I feel like it is super important, and it feels really good to know how much blood goes into helping people, especially because there is an urgent need.”

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