Church, Bloodworks Northwest team up for drive Wednesday in Hockinson

Bloodworks Northwest and Hockinson Heights Seventh-Day Adventist Church are hosting a blood drive Wednesday. Photo by Paul Valencia

Hockinson Heights Seventh-Day Adventist Church also asking donors to bring canned food for a food drive, as well

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

It is a chance for a community to gather for the common good.

And an opportunity to save a life.

Bloodworks Northwest is teaming up with Hockinson Heights Seventh-Day Adventist Church for a blood drive in Hockinson on Wednesday, Sept. 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.. The church is also asking donors to bring canned foods.

A blood drive and a food drive, just in time for the start of giving season.

“Hockinson Heights reached out. They want to connect the Hockinson community,” said Lauren Reagan, the community engagement liaison for Bloodworks Northwest. “What better way because we’re all bound by blood.”

Reagan said the church is going the extra mile with the canned food drive at the same time as the blood drive.

Bloodworks Northwest is the local nonprofit blood bank. The organization services 95 percent of the hospitals in the Northwest, and 100 percent of the hospitals in Clark County, Reagan said.

“When you’re donating with Bloodworks, you’re donating local, and it’s going to stay with local patients,” Reagan said.

This is starting to be the time of year when blood supply is low, and Bloodworks Northwest is hoping to raise awareness, asking folks to donate. Image courtesy Bloodworks Northwest

This will be the first community blood drive in Hockinson associated with Bloodworks Northwest. For years, the organization has set up a blood drive at Hockinson High School. That is for students and staff. But for the community as a whole, this will be a first. A first of many, Reagan said. There are already plans for Hockinson Heights to host another drive in December.

“We’re inviting everyone in Hockinson, Battle Ground, east Vancouver,” Reagan said, noting that there is a blood shortage. Bloodworks is at emergency levels for O Positive and O Negative blood.

The supply of blood ebbs and flows through the year. By the end of summer, though, there are often shortages, Reagan said.

“So many people were out doing all the fun things, and donating blood was on the low priority,” she said.

The blood drive will be set up inside the church. One of the big box trucks from Bloodworks Northwest will be in the parking lot, and there should be plenty of signage at the facility, located at 21109 NE 150th St. in Brush Prairie. For more information on Bloodworks Northwest, go to: https://www.bloodworksnw.org/