News Channel MLK Day of Service Blood Drive reaches its goal to boost local supplies
Dave Alley
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The annual News Channel 3-12 MLK Day of Service Blood Drive concluded on Monday afternoon with the event hitting its goal for blood collected.
Over the course of five hours, the blood drive collected 100 pints of blood at three Elks Lodge locations in Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara.
Now in its 8th year, the blood drive is held with Vitalant and takes place on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to increase local blood supplies that are typically at critically low levels at the start of the new year.
All of the donated blood will stay in the Tri-Counties area and will directly benefit patients in need at local hospitals.
Vitalant reports one pint of blood has the ability to save up to three lives, so the blood collected on Monday has the potential to save up to 300 lives.
For more information about the 8th Annual News Channel 3-11-12 MLK Day of Service Blood Drive, click here to visit the official webpage.