Grand Rapids, MI (April 12, 2007):  As part of an expanding outreach effort to make blood donation more convenient in more communities, Michigan Community Blood Centers will open community donor centers in Dorr (Allegan County); and in Rockford, Lowell, and Wyoming (Kent County).

The Dorr Community Donor Center, opening Saturday, May 5, will be located at Dorr Moose Lodge 2541, at 4204 20th Street in Dorr. Blood donors will be welcomed from Noon to 4 p.m. on the first Saturday of every other month (2007 dates: May 5, July 7, Sept 1, Nov 3).

The Rockford Community Donor Center will open Monday, June 11, at the Fire Barn, 7 South Monroe Street in Rockford. Donation hours are Noon to 4 p.m. After the June opening, this site will be open to donors the first Monday of every other month (2007 dates: June 11, Aug 6, Oct 1, Dec 3) at the Community Cabin, 7 South Monroe Street.

Details for the Community Donor Centers in Lowell and Wyoming will be announced soon, according to Doug Klynstra, who supervises donor recruitment for Michigan Community Blood Centers in West Michigan.

Michigan Community Blood Centers also operates 8 other community donor centers in Kent, Barry, and Ottawa counties; a main donor center in Grand Rapids; and mobile blood drives in Kent, Allegan, Barry, and Ottawa counties.

“Research has shown that convenience is a big motivator for people thinking about donating blood,” Klynstra said. “The community donor centers provide reliable places and times for people to count on giving blood. We hope these new sites will help more people make blood donation part of their regular activities schedule every two months.”

Two months (56 days) is the minimum interval required between blood donations. Any healthy person 17 or older who weighs 110 pounds or more may be eligible to give blood.

© Michigan Community Blood Centers