Vitalant encourages San Angelo residents to help with national blood shortage

Jay Moreno
·2 min read
David Lepe plays a game on his phone while getting blood drawn during the blood drive at Sunland Park Mall in partnership with Vitalant in El Paso. Donors received a complimentary COVID-19 antibody test as part of their blood donation.
David Lepe plays a game on his phone while getting blood drawn during the blood drive at Sunland Park Mall in partnership with Vitalant in El Paso. Donors received a complimentary COVID-19 antibody test as part of their blood donation.

The recent spike in COVID-19 cases has made a national shortage of blood donations even worse.

Vitalant, a nonprofit blood services provider, is encouraging San Angelo residents to help out by making an appointment to give blood.

“It is absolutely impacting our ability to collect blood that’s needed by patients in the hospital,” said Vitalant donor recruitment supervisor Linda Grace, referring to the pandemic’s effect on blood donations. “It was already bad before omicron hit, but now it’s very difficult.”

Mobile blood drives are being canceled due to increased COVID-19 cases, Grace said, including a blood drive at a high school nearly three hours away in Kermit. The drive was ultimately called off due to several students and faculty members testing positive for the virus.

Besides COVID-19, the flu and colds have also contributed to the blood shortage, as well as the lack of blood being donated during the holiday season, Grace said.

Pints of blood are prepared to be shipped out during the blood drive in partnership with Vitalant at Sunland Park Mall in El Paso. Donors received a complimentary COVID-19 antibody test as part of their blood donation.
Pints of blood are prepared to be shipped out during the blood drive in partnership with Vitalant at Sunland Park Mall in El Paso. Donors received a complimentary COVID-19 antibody test as part of their blood donation.

Appointments can be made at Vitalant’s San Angelo location (formerly the United Blood Services building) at 2020 W. Beauregard Ave. Donations can be made during their regular operation hours at 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, noon to 7 p.m. Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday.

There will also be a blood drive at Sunset Mall in the community room next to Conn’s on Saturday, Jan. 22, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those who donate blood at the mall will receive Chick-fil-A coupons.

Donors at both locations must feel well on the day of their donation, as there is no waiting period. All those who donate blood through Vitalant during January will be entered into a $5,000 Big Game Giveaway, where winners can win prepaid gift cards of that amount by mail.

“Now is the time to step up to help,” Grace said. “The only place that blood can come from if you or somebody you know or love is in the hospital is from you, the volunteer blood donor.”

For more information or to make an appointment, call 877-258-4825 or visit www.vitalant.org. Those who wish to donate at Sunset Mall can use the blood drive code “Sunset Mall” when making an appointment.

This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Vitalant asks San Angelo to help with national blood shortage