Vitalant launches new blood drive partnership with WVU Medicine East hospitals
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – Vitalant, one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit community blood services providers, is launching a new partnership with WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center in Martinsburg and Jefferson Medical Center in Ranson to collect blood donations that will benefit patients in the Eastern Panhandle.
The partnership will kick off later this month with a blood drive at Berkeley Medical Center on April 22. Jefferson Medical Center will co-sponsor a blood drive on May 16 and 17 with several community partners at the Ranson Civic Center.
Vitalant is the exclusive blood produce supplier for all WVU Medicine hospitals, but this will be the first time Vitalant is holding blood drives in the Eastern Panhandle. Anthony P. Zelenka, president and CEO, Berkeley and Jefferson Medical Centers, emphasized the need for the community to participate.
“Vitalant provides blood products for Jefferson Medical Center, Berkeley Medical Center and our emergency air ambulance/helicopter service,” Zelenka said. “It’s important for local residents to understand that when they donate blood at one of our Vitalant blood drives, these blood produces come back to our local hospitals to treat our patients.”
Blood donors at the drives will receive an “awemaker” t-shirt to commemorate their donation.
Details on the April 22 blood drive at Berkeley Medical Center, 2500 Hospital Drive, Martinsburg, WV 25401:
- Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Location is the eighth floor classroom
- Make an appointment to donate online at vitalant.org or by calling 877-258-4825
- Use group code W4310011
Details on the May 16 and 17 blood drives hosted by Jefferson Medical Center at the Ranson Civic Center Sports Court, 432 West Second Ave., Ranson, WV 25438:
- Hours on May 16 are 2 to 7 p.m.
- Hours on May 17 are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Make an appointment to donate online at vitalant.org or by calling 877-258-4825
- Use group code W4310012
Donors can also download the Vitalant-Pittsburgh app to make appointments form a smartphone. Visit vitalant.org for detailed information about the blood donation process.