by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Over the past holiday season, the gift of giving was in full force in shopping malls and venues across Northeast Florida. For officials and volunteers who oversee the blood donation operation in the area, thankfully, the giving wasn’t strictly monetary.
In the typical end-of-the-year holiday season, blood donations drop anywhere from 10-15 percent for The Blood Alliance due to sickness and travel. But this year wasn’t the typical year, said Dr. Marsha Bertholf, medical director for the organization that provides blood and blood products to hospitals and facilities in Northeast Florida and parts of Georgia and South Carolina.
“It was one of our best seasons,” said Bertholf. “We did end up having some no-shows around Christmas, but overall it was successful.”
Some of the success is due to two of the larger promotions during the season, said Odette Struys, communications and media relations representative. The early December “Gift of Life” drive with the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Stadium produced 700 pints of blood — though 800 left the next day, said Struys.
“They went out as fast as they came in,” she said, “but it was a very successful drive and the need is there.”
In addition, the Gator Bowl Association partnered with the organization to raffle 50 pairs of tickets to the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl game for those who registered and donated across several venues in Northeast Florida from Dec. 27-31.
“It was a great partnership,” said Bertholf, who joked: “We even had many visitors from West Virginia stop in.”
Struys agreed, saying that the Gator Bowl ticket drive boosted donations, but noted that many people she saw stopping by the many mobile units across the city (with two of the busiest locations at the Landing and Fraternal Order of Police building) weren’t just in it for the incentive — they actually were there for the donation and goodwill.
The need for 350 pints a day is ongoing, said Struys, and while The Blood Alliance emerged from the season in relatively good shape (though O-negative and A-negative are both in need), officials are looking forward to reaching out in different ways to attract donors, such as the organization’s recently launched Facebook page under aptly named Phillip A. Pint.
Following this week the calendar is full, said Bertholf, which is always a positive sign heading into the year.
“We’re optimistic and looking forward to a good year,” said Bertholf.
For more information on The Blood Alliance, including locations and current blood supply levels, go to www.igiveblood.com.
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