Employees Generous with Gift of Life

Hundreds of local patients are getting critically needed infusions thanks to County employees.

Turnout at this year’s County Employees Blood Drive, which wrapped up Tuesday, far exceeded expectations. The nonprofit San Diego Blood Bank, which worked with County employees to organize the event, reported collecting 225 pints of blood. The projected total this year? 156 pints.

“We’re thrilled to see so many County employees come forward and make these precious donations,” said Supervisor Greg Cox, who was among those who donated blood. “These are gifts you cannot buy. Yet they are invaluable.”

So what kind of difference will the donations make in the lives of trauma patients and people suffering from life threatening blood disorders?

“One blood donation can help up to three patients, so you can multiply the total donation by three to get the number of patients whose lives have been touched by County employees this month,” said Lynn Stedd, the nonprofit’s Community Relations & Marketing Director.

County employees donated the blood at five events this month, held at the County Administration Center, County Health & Human Services Agency offices on Rosecrans and in Chula Vista, County Operations Center and the North County Regional Complex in Vista.

In all, 210 people donated 225 pints of blood, according to Stedd. The donations will go to patients around Southern California.