DAYTON, Ohio (1-6-23) – Mercer Health and Community Blood Center are beginning new partnership in 2023 that includes a new monthly blood drive schedule.

The first monthly community blood drive will be Tuesday, Jan. 17 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Mercer County Community Hospital conference room, 800 W. Main St., Coldwater.

Everyone who registers to donate will receive the January Blood Donor Awareness Month “Give Blood, Give Love” long-sleeve, hoodie t-shirt and a $10 Kroger gift card. Make an appointment online at www.DonorTime.com, call (937) 461-3220, or use the new Donor Time app.

CBC is now the sole provider of all blood products to Mercer Health. The partnership includes monthly community blood drives at Mercer County Community Hospital and bimonthly community blood drives at Community Medical Center in Celina.

Mercer Health and CBC will celebrate their partnership with an open house Tuesday, Jan. 17 beginning at 11 a.m. There will be special refreshments for all donors, staff, and community members.

CBC blood drives at Mercer Health will be held every third Tuesday of the month with the same hours of 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

CBC COO Diane Wilson

“Our message to the community is that the blood you donate with CBC will stay in your hometown to help a neighbor at Mercer Health or to help save lives at a partner hospital in our region. There is no better way to help a neighbor than by donating blood. It is a gift that gives hope and a second chance on life.”

CBC became a partial supplier of blood products to Mercer Health in 2022 and the hospital hosted the first CBC blood drive in March. Community Medical Center hosted its first CBC blood drive in August.

Mindy Kremer, VP of Development, Marketing and Community Relations at Mercer Health

“Our community has a history of being generous blood donors. We encourage donors to consider giving at local blood drives sponsored by Community Blood Center as this will ensure our inventory stays replenished as Community Blood Center is the sole blood supplier for Mercer Health.”

CBC was founded in 1964 as Dayton’s first blood bank and within a year was serving five general hospitals in Montgomery County. Today CBC is the sole provider of blood products to 30 partner hospitals and health centers in its 18-county region of western Ohio and eastern Indiana and to select hospitals and blood centers outside the region.

CBC must register approximately 300 donors per day to collect and process enough blood products (red cells, platelets, and plasma) to meet the needs of its partner hospitals. The annual need is projected at more than 70,000 units of blood products.

For more information about Community Blood Center visit www.GivingBlood.org.

Blood donation requirements:  Donors are required to provide a photo ID that includes their full name.  Past CBC donors are also asked to bring their CBC donor ID card.  Donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 years old with parental consent: form available at www.givingblood.org or at the Dayton CBC and mobile blood drive locations), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds (you may have to weigh more depending on your height), and be in good physical health.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changes blood donor eligibility guidelines periodically.  Individuals with eligibility questions can email canidonate@cbccts.org or call (937) 461-3220. Make an appointment at www.DonorTime.com.

Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services® is an independent, not-for-profit organization.  Community Blood Center provides blood products to partner hospitals and health centers within its 18-county service area of western Ohio and eastern Indiana and to select hospitals and blood centers outside the region.  For more information visit www.givingblood.org

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