World Blood Donor Day Boosts Awareness of Ongoing Need for Lifesaving Donations
Harlandale senior helps spread the word about a ‘selfless, simple’ way to help others
SAN ANTONIO - South Texas Blood & Tissue is inviting all South Texans to help celebrate World Blood Donor Day, a global occasion that recognizes the selfless contributions of blood donors and highlights the importance of blood donation in saving lives. It is celebrated each year on June 14.
As a thank-you, all donors will receive a $20 e-gift card.
As summer arrives and the demand for blood increases, the community is encouraged to step forward and donate blood like Renae Rea. She is a recent graduate of Harlandale High School and as a frequent donor, she understands the immense impact a single blood donation can have on someone's life.
In 2019, her father required blood transfusions to save his life.
"Donating blood is one of the most selfless, simple actions you can do," she said. “Giving blood is not just a simple action but a powerful opportunity to make a difference. Doing something as simple as donating blood is saving someone's life.”
Renae's unwavering commitment to blood donation demonstrates her understanding of the profound impact it can have on the lives of those in need.
Her dedication to blood donation has earned her the red cord, given to high school seniors who have donate blood at least six times before graduating. She has donated seven times, helping save 21 lives. Her next donation will mark her one-gallon donation.
“This is a critical time for our blood supply. The need for blood continues, but the pace of donations traditionally slows during the summer months because there are no school drives and fewer donors are available because of travel,” said Adrienne Mendoza, Chief Operating Officer, South Texas Blood & Tissue. “World Blood Donor Day is the perfect opportunity to make an appointment to donate blood.”
Donors can schedule a donation by visiting SouthTexasBlood.org or calling 210-731-5590. While appointments are recommended, walk-in donations will also be accepted as space allows at donor centers.
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About South Texas Blood & Tissue: South Texas Blood & Tissue (STB&T) is a nonprofit community blood center that provides blood, plasma, platelets and other blood components to 100 hospitals in 48 South Texas counties. It is the largest blood supplier in our region. In addition, STB&T supports the development of advanced therapies, including those derived from donated human cells and tissues used in research and in new therapies and cures for cancers and degenerative diseases. Through the generous life-legacy gifts of human tissue, STB&T also supports development of tissue allografts for patients in need of reconstructive surgery, repair or tissue regeneration. South Texas Blood & Tissue has a 49-year history serving the South Texas community and is part of the BioBridge Global family of nonprofit organizations, which offers services in regenerative medicine and research including blood banking and resource management; cellular therapy; umbilical cord blood collection and storage; donated human tissue recovery and distribution for transplant; and testing of blood and plasma to help patients in the United States and worldwide. STB&T has nine donor centers in South Texas and conducts hundreds of mobile blood drives each year. Learn more at SouthTexasBlood.org.
About BioBridge Global: BioBridge Global (BBG) is a San Antonio-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit regenerative medicine enterprise that offers diverse services through its subsidiaries – South Texas Blood & Tissue, QualTex Laboratories, GenCure and The Blood & Tissue Center Foundation. BBG provides products and services in blood resource management, cellular therapy, donated umbilical cord blood and human tissue, as well as testing of blood, plasma and tissue products for clients in the United States and worldwide. BBG is committed to saving and enhancing lives through the healing power of human cells and tissue. It enables advances in the field of regenerative medicine by providing access to human cells and tissue, testing services and biomanufacturing and clinical trials support. Learn more at BioBridgeGlobal.org.