HCC partners with community to give the gift of life

Nov 5, 2015

Everyday more than 1,000 donations are needed to maintain a healthy blood supply in the Texas Gulf Coast Region, and Houston Community College contributed 70 units of blood to support the surrounding community.

 HCC recently teamed up with the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center at the Stafford, West Loop and Gulfton campuses to boost blood donations. Nationally, schools provide a large amount of the areas blood supply. They account for over 20 percent of the blood used by patients.

“We are most likely to find the blood type a person needs within their own community and because Houston is such a diverse city, we need a diverse blood supply,” Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center Donor Recruitment Coordinator Patricia LeBlanc said. “HCC’s West Loop and Gulfton Campuses are a veritable garden of varied ethnicities, and this helps us serve the community.”

 Some donors pay it forward because family members were saved by blood donations. Others consider donating blood a selfless act that directly helps others.

 “I volunteer to give blood so people who need it can use it,” five-time donor and HCC student Robert Martinez said. “If you feel well and have time, lend a hand and donate.”

 “There are so many diseases and disorders out there that require multiple blood donations,” first-time donor and HCC student Jaqueline Chadwick said. “Some people need to get two to three donations per day, just to survive.”

 Thanks to our students, staff and community who donated a pint of blood to help saves lives in our area.