Annual Community Wide Blood Drive involves entire county in June

Houchin Community Blood Bank's 11th annual Community Wide Blood Drive is taking place until June 17, 2017 to ensure there are sufficient blood supplies for Kern County as summer kicks off. Nine groups scheduled mobile blood drives as part of the effort. Four are open to the public in Bakersfield, and three are scheduled throughout Kern County. Thanks to sponsors Adventist Health Community Hospital and Kaiser Permanente, donors at the blood bank and on all mobile units will be entered to win a Grand Prize Disney Vacation, as well as one of ten $100 gasoline cards throughout the drive. Donors will also receive a "Catch the Wave of Giving" t-shirt at the mobile drive or either donor center.

The public is encouraged to visit the two blood bank locations at 5901 Truxtun Avenue and 11515 Bolthouse Drive in Bakersfield, during regular hours (M-T-W-F 11-7 p.m., Sat. 8-2 p.m.) any day during the eleven day event, or to take advantage of the community drives to help ensure a safe and adequate blood supply is available to all in Kern County.

Other Community Wide Blood Drive sponsors are American General Media's 101.5 KGFM and The Bakersfield Californian. Summer is traditionally a tough month to maintain adequate blood supplies since regular donors are on vacation, so this drive is designed to attract new and less frequent donors to the cause. Donors must be 18 years of age, 110 pounds and have a photo ID with date of birth to register. Minors 16 and 17 years of age are welcome to donate with signed parental consent form available at hcbb.com/consent-forms-for-minors/. Controlled illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure may not keep a person from donating blood. People with any questions regarding their eligibility should call Houchin for more information

For more information or appointments call (661) 323-4222 or log onto http://www.hcbb.com. A toll free number is also available: 877-364-5844.