Local Blood Bank Breaks Ground On Donation Center Revamp

TRAVERSE CITY, MI: Michigan Community Blood Centers formally launched a new phase in a planned $250,000 expansion project on Thursday, June 16, at 1:30 p.m., with a groundbreaking ceremony at the main donor center, 2575 Aero Park Drive, Traverse City. The event marked the start of construction to expand and refurbish the blood donation area within the facility.

Featured speakers at the groundbreaking were Herbert Lemcool, Grand Traverse County Commissioner, and Darryl Nelson, the Blood Center’s Board chairman. Representing Michigan Community Blood Centers administration, president and CEO Norman L. Felker presided along with Dr. Lee Ann Weitekamp, vice president for medical affairs, and Sharron Zimmerman, MT(ASCP), operations manager in Traverse City.

Blood Center administrators and Board members for the Traverse City donor center welcomed a helping hand from community guests at the June 13 groundbreaking: (left to right) Kevin Shoults, Board member; Ed Fisher, Board member; Phil Knapp, Board Vice-Chairman; Sharron Zimmerman, Blood Center operations manager; Arlene Nelson, blood recipient; Herb Lemcool, Grand Traverse County Commissioner; Norman Felker, Blood Center President & CEO; Darryl Nelson, Board Chairman; Dr. Michael Barna, Board member.

Major grants from the Oleson Foundation and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians will help cover the cost of expanding the Blood Center’s donation area. Grand Traverse Construction is the contractor for this project, which is the second phase of a three-phase building initiative at the Aero Park drive facility. During the first phase, garage space was expanded. The third phase will create a dedicated space for staging mobile blood drives, including additional special storage needed for blood drive equipment and supplies.

Representatives from the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce and the public joined Blood Center administrators and Board members at the June 13 groundbreaking at the Traverse City donor center.  Left to right:  Ed Fisher, Board member; Herb Lemcool, Grand Traverse County Commissioner; Doug Luciani, Chamber of Commerce president and former Blood Center Board member; Sharron Zimmerman, Blood Center operations manager; Dan Galbraith, Chamber of Commerce ambassador; Cliff Murie, community resident; Ben Trombley, Chamber of Commerce ambassador; Racheal Cherry, community resident; Carrie Timmrick, Chamber of Commerce ambassador. 

Expansion of the Blood Center’s Traverse City facility was prompted by growth in operations and in demand for services during Michigan Community Blood Centers’ past 10 years of service to communities in Northwest Michigan. Compared to 1995, when the Traverse City donor center first opened, the number of mobile blood drives conducted annually has more than doubled, as has the volume of blood collected each year.

Michigan Community Blood Centers provides 100 percent of the regular blood supply for hospitals in a large area of Northwest Michigan, including all Munson Health Systems facilities, Spectrum-Reed City Campus, and West Shore Medical Center in Manistee. Statewide, Michigan Community Blood Centers is the sole source of blood for hospitals in several major regions with a combined population of more than 1.5 million.

© Michigan Community Blood Centers