Event to Feature Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Complimentary Refreshments, and Prizes to All Donors.
Non-profit regional blood center, Blood Assurance, invites the community to the grand opening celebration of its Columbia donor center on Thursday, January 7 from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Visitors will receive complimentary refreshments, and all blood donors will receive a long-sleeve t-shirt along with a variety of local gifts. The grand opening will feature a special ribbon cutting ceremony at 11:00 a.m. hosted by the Maury County Chamber and Economic Alliance and Blood Assurance staff, where guests may learn more about the Blood Assurance mission and tour the new facility.
“There is always a need for blood, and we are pleased to offer a convenient location to the Columbia community to help meet that need,” said Charlie Callari, vice president of marketing and donor recruitment for Blood Assurance, Inc. “With our grand opening celebration, we want to establish the new Columbia location as a place where the community can help save lives. Every blood donation saves three lives, and it takes 540 donations a day in order to meet the need of area hospitals.”
Blood Assurance is a non-profit, full-service regional blood center serving 51 counties and more than 75 health care facilities in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia. The mission of Blood Assurance is to provide a safe and adequate supply of blood and blood components to every area patient in need. The organization relies on the complimentary donations of community members to help save local patients’ lives across the region. Blood Assurance is the sole blood provider to Maury Regional Medical Center.
“We’re thrilled to have our new donor center open to the community and are so thankful for the support that we have already received from so many donors across the Columbia community,” said Jennifer Schultz, donor recruiter for Blood Assurance.
The Columbia Blood Assurance Center is located in Neely’s Mill at 1412 Trotwood Ave, Suite 69. The donor center is currently open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. For questions about the grand opening event, please call 931-797-0263.
To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids – avoiding caffeine – and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating. For more information on Blood Assurance, donating blood or hosting a blood drive, please visit www.bloodassurance.org.
