STBTC Opens Blood Donation Center in Northwest San Antonio

Summer blood collections continue

SAN ANTONIO (June 27, 2008) – The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center (STBTC) celebrated the opening of their newest donor room at 10555 Culebra Road today and continued its summer efforts to recruit blood donors. Commissioner Sergio “Chico” Rodriguez, San Antonio City Council District 6 Delicia Herrera, representatives of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and center staff were on hand for the ribbon cutting, along with blood donor, Dale Moore, who spoke about the time he takes to donate blood, save lives and monitor his health.

“I donate because it feels good to help others....,” Moore said. “Through blood donations, I have been able to save lives of people I have never met and get results on my cholesterol.”

The Westover Hills Donor Room is the eighth donation center in the region, including the Center’s satellite office in Victoria. Officials announced the grand opening of a new donor pavilion at STBTC headquarters location on IH-10.

“Since more elective surgeries take place in the summer and with more people vacationing in South Texas, this is a critical time to maintain a balance between blood donations and blood transfusions in area hospitals,” explained Norman D. Kalmin, MD, President/CEO and Medical Director of STBTC. “Opening donation facilities in the communities we serve is part of STBTC’s effort to make life-saving donations more convenient.”

STBTC is providing donors with a “Patriotic theme” T-shirt. To encourage donors to come in more frequently, a program to receive a $20 gift card is also an added incentive. This “Save Our Summer” program invites all presenting donors to give blood twice between May 1 and September 30, 2008. A HEB gift card will be mailed to donors once the campaign has ended.