5th Annual Blood Drive Coordinator Appreciation Week Is Oct. 6-10

Every drop of blood collected begins with a spark — a call to action, a shared belief that life is worth fighting for. And at the heart of that spark is you, our dedicated blood drive coordinators. During the 5th Annual Blood Drive Coordinator Appreciation Week (Oct. 6-10), we honor your extraordinary efforts that power our lifesaving mission. Because what you do means everything.

You Help Save Lives, Every Single Day
Behind every blood donation is a person desperately hoping for a second chance: a child in treatment, a mother in recovery, or a crash victim clinging to life. You're the reason second chances exist. Without your leadership, those lifesaving moments wouldn’t happen.

You Prevent Empty Hospital Shelves
You don’t wait for a crisis to act, you anticipate it. Because of you, blood is ready on the shelves before a doctor calls for it. You turn fear into relief, and uncertainty into action.

You Make Miracles Possible
You create the opportunity for one more birthday, one more graduation, one more embrace. A blood drive may last a few hours, but the impact lasts a lifetime. And you’re the one who makes it happen.

You Find the Matches Others Can’t
Some patients need rare blood types or exact matches. You take that challenge personally. You don’t stop at “good enough.” You go the extra mile to make the impossible possible.

You Speak for Those Who Can’t
Most patients can’t advocate for themselves. They’re in treatment, in pain, or in silence. But you speak up. You rally donors, spread awareness, and remind communities what’s truly at stake.

You Inspire Lifelong Lifesavers
Because of your care and coordination, first-time donors feel welcome. Nervous teens leave proud. Hesitant adults return empowered. You plant seeds of generosity that grow into legacies of compassion.



Gil and Linda celebrate more than 30 years of hosting blood drives.

A true team in every sense of the word, Gil and Linda recently celebrated 55 years of marriage and more than 30 years hosting blood drives with Vitalant. During that time, they have organized 125 blood drives, collecting approximately 5,000 units of blood.

Gil, a lifelong blood donor, first donated in college and later throughout his military service in the 1960s. “It’s something I think is important,” Gil said. “It gives me a good feeling to know I’m helping people.”

Even their children participate, making blood donation something of a family tradition. One of the blood drives the couple hosted was just two weeks before Gil needed to undergo open-heart surgery, and knowing blood was available for his surgery reaffirmed his commitment to the cause.
 
You are more than event organizers. You are lifelines, connectors and quiet heroes. Without coordinators like you, we could not carry out our mission of saving lives. We are proud to stand with you this October … and every day after. Read more about other blood drive coordinators and the patients who benefit from your efforts. Be sure to follow Vitalant on social media and check your email Oct. 6-10 for updates and information throughout the week!

Let’s celebrate all you do, and the countless lives you help save.

From all of us at Vitalant: Thank you.

Article published for the Vital Connections newsletter.