Glendale mayor hosts record-setting blood drive

Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers was the first to give blood during the Community Blood Drive, which he hosted, Wednesday, Jan. 9 at the Glendale Civic Center. [Bette Sharpe/Special to Independent Newsmedia]

By Ed and Bette Sharpe
Special to Independent Newsmedia

Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers hosted a Community Blood Drive last week that set the record for the largest blood drive in the city.

Sandy Weiers, wife of Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers, was the second to give blood during the Community Blood Drive Wednesday, Jan. 9 at the Glendale Civic Center. [Bette Sharpe/Special to Independent Newsmedia]

“My goal is for this to be the largest blood drive ever in Glendale with over 500 donors.” Mayor Weiers said before the blood drive Wednesday, Jan. 9 at the Glendale Civic Center Annex building..

Although the drive did not hit the goal of 500 blood draws, it was the largest drive in Glendale history, according to Katrina Eaton, senior donor recruitment representative from Vitalant.

“We had over 100 attempted donors, has 77 successful donations and collected 92 units of blood with our power red and plasma donations,” Ms. Eaton said. “Our previous record for City of Glendale blood donations was set 13 years ago on Jan. 12th, 2005, with 38 donors and 43 units of blood collected. Yesterday’s drive was over double the previous city record.”

Vitalant, formerly known as United Blood Services, along with the Glendale Chamber of Commerce, Glendale’s Employee Wellness Committee and AZ Catering supported the Mayor’s first-year event. The Glendale Chamber of Commerce provided snacks for donors and deemed the event this “Business Over Breakfast With A Twist” in lieu of its regular Business Over Breakfast event.

January is a critical time to replenish the blood bank’s reserves. It is typically the time of year with the the highest need and fewest donations.

Those that missed the opportunity to give blood last week have other opportunities this month in Glendale.

Gary Webb, president of OCJ Kids, gives blood during the Community Blood Drive while Andrea Villasenor monitors, Wednesday,
Jan. 9 at the Glendale Civic Center. [Bette Sharpe/Special to Independent Newsmedia]

Donations can be made every day at the Glendale Donor Center, 18583 N. 59th Ave. Suite 113. Glencroft Senior Living, 8611 N. 67th Ave. will have a donation drive 8 a.m. – noon Thursday, Jan. 17 with the Vitalant “Bloodmobile” in the parking lot. Apollo High School, 8045 N. 47th Ave. will host a blood drive 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18 Big Hawk Room 303. Arizona State University West Campus, 4701 W. Thunderbird Ave. Suite 170 will host a drive 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29 on the south walkway between the fitness center and library.

Find a complete list of Vitalant blood drives and register at bloodhero.com.

“The need for blood donors is constant, and we still need 500 donors every day to meet state blood needs,” Ms. Eaton said.

Blood donations help the national blood supply provide much needed blood components to patients throughout the country. Every day in the U.S., patients throughout emergency care facilities need approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells, 7,000 units of platelets and 10,000 units of plasma.

“I continue to work towards making Glendale a better place for all its residents,” Mayor Weiers said, “and holding a blood drive to help those in need at a time when it is most needed seems like a win-win situation.”