Summer of Giving [Blood]
This summer, ORPIB is looking to partner with Bloodworks Northwest, the local nonprofit organization managing the blood supply for nearly all hospitals in the Pacific Northwest, to help save local lives in our region!
Only 3% of the population donates regularly and that number dips even lower in the summer months.
For those that don’t know, in 2023 the FDA finally made donating blood more inclusive and allowing more gay and bisexual men to donate, and all donors are asked the same questions instead of some being disqualified because of sexual orientation.
More information at http://www.bloodworksnw.org/eligibilityupdates and you can speak to Bloodworks NW for specific questions at 800-398-7888 Option 4 or email schedule@bloodworksnw.org.
Two ways you can participate in the ORPIB Summer of Giving [Blood]
Donate
Make an appointment at or walk in to any Bloodworks NW Donor Center or Mobile Drive between Bellingham, WA and Eugene, OR
Mention code ORPB when you donate to track your impact.
That’s it but two items in this list didn’t feel like enough!
Hosting A Blood Drive
In partnership with the Q Center in Portland, ORPIB hosted a blood drive last June on the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. It was easy and rewarding!
Chris Harrison (he/him), ORPIB member and Community Engagement Liaison for Bloodworks NW, will work directly with blood drive hosts to complete a site inspection of your location to confirm it meets all requirements and support you along the way.
Please contact info@orpib.com and charrison@bloodworksnw.org if you are interested after reviewing the basic requirements below!
Basic Bloodmobile Bus Drive Requirements:
Located within 90 minutes / 100 miles (each way) from the Bloodworks NW Beaverton Donor Center, Vancouver Donor Center, or Eugene Donor Center
Finding an agreed upon weekday (Monday – Friday) to host the Bloodmobile Bus for 8 hours
Blood drive runs for 6 hours (typically 9am – 3pm or 10am – 4pm but can be flexible) with 28 to 37 appointments in that time, depending on the available vehicle that day
Bus arrives 60 minutes prior to drive start and departs about 60 minutes after drive ends
Providing restroom access for staff and donors throughout the 8-hour period
Bloodmobile Bus must be within 300 ft. of restrooms for staff and donors to use – can be just a single stall restroom
Restroom must have hot/cold water, soap, etc. and not just a port-a-potty, but can be offered by a neighboring business if your location does not have a restroom available
Coning off/blocking off about 50’ of level pavement (typically 6-7 parking spaces) for the Bloodmobile Bus
Bloodmobile Buses are roughly 40’ long x 15’ tall x 11’ wide and does have a few steps for donor entry and donor exit on the passenger side of the bus
Everything (besides restroom access) takes place inside the bus including registration, private health screening, blood donation, and post-donation refreshments!
If there is a slight slope in your pavement area, Chris can confirm if it is within allowable range (~2.5° slope) via site inspection for the Bloodmobile Bus and its levelers to still be viable
Promotional support for the blood drive
Bloodworks Northwest makes this EASY on you by providing online portal for registration, printable 8.5x11 PDF eFlyers, various social graphics, and messaging templates!
Anything your location can offer! Word of mouth, social media, newsletters, sharing flyers with neighbors and contacts in the community, etc. – and ORPIB will help amplify as well
Your drive will be listed on www.bloodworksnw.org/giveblood (location map that can zoom in/out and adjust by date range) for donors to find as a donation opportunity
Plus, the Bloodworks NW Donor Care Team will reach out to existing donors in nearby zip codes 2 weeks prior to drives that are open to the public and your drive may be featured in radio ads, digital ads, and email marketing.