The first blood drive on Lopez Island this year will be on Tuesday, March 11, from 12-6 p.m. at the Community Church in the Village. For more information on the drive, please contact Fritz Baesman at 468-3584 or fritz@baesman.net.

Blood drives in 2008 on Lopez Island will also be held on: June 3, July 29, September 23 and Dec. 9, (all Tuesdays.)

Lopez Island has a proud history of blood donation with the Puget Sound Blood Center. Since 1994, the Lopez Island Lions Club has sponsored 49 blood drives on the island. At these drives, 500 donors have registered to donate blood that resulted in benefiting over 1275 patients.

Puget Sound Blood Center is the primary provider of blood to hospitals throughout western Washington. Each unit of blood benefits up to three patients. The blood collected at community blood drives provides life and comfort to patients who have suffered serious injuries or burns, need transfusions during surgeries, and/or have life-threatening chronic diseases like leukemia and cancer that require frequent transfusions.

Giving blood is a safe and easy process. Sterile, disposable equipment is used to collect each donor’s blood. The actual donation takes only seven to 10 minutes. The entire blood donation process is less than an hour. In general, those in good health who weigh 110 pounds or more may donate blood. There is no upper age limit for blood donation.