Every 90 seconds, someone in North Texas needs a life-saving blood transfusion. As a volunteer for BloodCare, neighborhood resident Don Daiker is doing his part to ensure the blood supply is available for patients.
BloodCare is one of the largest all-volunteer blood centers in the country and serves 124 healthcare facilities in the North Texas area. The organization needs 600 blood donations per day to meet the demand for its services.
To meet this need, BloodCare hosts more than 180 mobile blood drives each month. Daiker greets donors as they arrive and asks them to complete an application. He then enters the information into a computer. This information is used by staff members to screen the donor anonymously for eligibility requirements.
With so many mobile blood drives, BloodCare has a tremendous need for more volunteers. Volunteers must be available to work an entire day, usually seven to nine hours. Volunteers are reimbursed for their mileage expenses traveling to and from the mobile sites.
If you’re not available to volunteer at a blood drive, you can also help by donating blood. As a bonus, when you donate blood, the staff will test your cholesterol level and blood pressure and give you a donor card indicating your blood type.
To become a BloodCare volunteer, call Marilyn Hughes at 214-351-8652. To find out where you can donate blood, call 214-351-8111.
