Antelope Valley Medical Center Blood Donor Center and Rotary Club Invites Community to Give the Gift of Life This Winter

(LANCASTER, Calif.) — January is National Volunteer Blood Donor Month and Antelope Valley Medical Center (AVMC) is partnering with the Rotary Clubs of the Antelope Valley to help save lives in our community. A blood drive is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. in the AVMC Blood Donor Center, located in the Antelope Valley Outpatient Imaging Center (AVOIC).

Blood donors will receive a free pancake breakfast compliments of Halley-Olsen-Murphy Funerals and Cremations. Blood donors and friends are also invited to check out some of the hottest rides in the Antelope Valley at a car show in the City of Hope parking lot. Other local community organizations will be on-hand sharing information, including the Antelope Valley Sheriff’s Department offering El Niño preparation tips, Boys Scouts of America, California Highway Patrol and American Medical Response.

During the holiday season blood donations often decline as people become busy with holiday preparations and travel. Yet the need for blood remains constant, which is why the AVMC Blood Donor Center and the Rotary Club are encouraging local residents to give the gift of life this time of year. All of the blood collected at the AVMC Blood Donor Center is used for patients at Antelope Valley Medical Center.

“Blood donors are our silent heroes,” said Ellen Gaines, AVMC Blood Donor Center coordinator. “Donating blood is fast, easy, free and saves lives!”

Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Most healthy people age 17 and older, or 16 with parental consent, who weigh at least 110 pounds are eligible to donate blood. First time donors must present a driver’s license or state ID. The donation takes only about 5-10 minutes but allow one hour for the whole process.

As a special way of thanking AVMC blood donors, from Dec. 1, 2015 through Jan. 31, 2016 each donor will receive a free cholesterol test and a free t-shirt (while supplies last).

The AVMC Blood Donor Center is located on the hospital’s campus in the AVOIC at 44105 15th Street West, Suite 305 (the intersection of 15th Street West and Avenue J-5). Regular hours of operation are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Wednesdays from 7 a.m.-4 p.m., and the first and third Saturdays of each month from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. The donor center will be closed Dec. 23, 2014 through Jan. 1, 2015 with regular hours resuming on Jan. 3. Walk-ins are welcome, or donors can make an appointment by calling 661-949-5622.

About Antelope Valley Medical Center

Celebrating 60 years of caring for the community, Antelope Valley Medical Center is located in the city of Lancaster in northern Los Angeles County. The 420-bed district hospital is a Level II trauma center, Accredited Chest Pain Center, Advanced Primary Stroke Center and provides a full array of medical/surgical services, pediatric treatment, NICU, mental health, cancer care and more. More information is available at www.AVMC.org or by calling 661-949-5000. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/antelopevalleyhospital.