Help Save Lives in Northern California By Donating Blood At The 14th Annual Bucket Brigade Blood Drive Challenge
During December and January, blood donors can participate in the 14th Annual Bucket Brigade Blood Drive Challenge and impact the lives of patients in area hospitals. Participants receive a special 14th Annual Bucket Brigade T-shirt and can help their local fire department win the friendly challenge.
Vitalant (formerly Blood Centers of the Pacific), in partnership with 21 fire departments across Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties, is proud to announce the 14th Annual Bucket Brigade Blood Drive Challenge. The Bucket Brigade Challenge is a friendly competition among participating fire departments to see which department can host the largest blood drive by enlisting firefighters, friends, family and members of the community to donate lifesaving blood during the holiday season.
“We are grateful to our firefighters and community members in Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma Counties for their support in helping us meet the blood needs of Bay Area patients” said Fred McFadden, Regional Director, Vitalant, San Francisco Bay Area. “The months of December and January are two of our most challenging periods of the year when it comes to ensuring hospitals have the blood they need for patient care. Last year the Bucket Brigade blood drives accounted for 20 percent of all red cell units Vitalant collected in the Region during that time. This is an INCREDIBLE achievement by our Bucket Brigade Blood Drive participants and we hope to see the same support this season. Thank you all for the lifesaving difference you make to patients needing blood.”
It is vital to continuously replenish the blood supply so we are ready when circumstances hinder the ability to collect blood. In addition, there are times when the need for blood increases and we, as a community need to be ready. Having an adequate blood supply throughout the year ensures we can meet the needs of patients every day. Every winter, blood banks face challenges on a national level. From the holidays, to flu season to winter storms, blood donations are negatively impacted. Schools are on break and many people take time off from work thus many of our usual blood drive hosts take a “break”. It is common that multiple blood banks experience a drop in donations over the holidays which can lead to shortages.
Since 2006, fire departments participating in the Bucket Brigade Challenge have recruited more than 10,000 participants who donated thousands of units of blood for patients in Northern California hospitals. Last year, Healdsburg Fire Department took home the coveted Bucket Trophy with 99 participants. An amazing 855 people attended Bucket Brigade blood drives in the 13th season, and 847 units of life saving blood were collected.
"Everybody has been so thankful to our local firefighters for the work they did on the Kincade fire, and we are appreciative of that,” said Jason Boaz, Fire Chief, Healdsburg Fire Department. “One thing they can do to show their support and help our community is to donate blood at our Bucket Brigade blood drive. Their donations will help save lives, which is always our first priority.”
Historically, the Bucket Brigade idea comes from the Great London Fire of 1666 that found community members in “brigades” as they passed buckets of water from the city’s water supply to the blaze that endangered their town and community. Vitalant Recruitment Manager Andrea Casson brought these participating fire departments together 14 years ago with the idea of “creating a modern Bucket Brigade that gathers our community in an effort to save lives through blood donations.”
Multiple fire departments are hosting blood drives. To find one near you, please see the complete list below. To make an appointment, visit www.vitalant.org/bucketbrigade or call 877-258-4425. For your donation, please arrive well-hydrated, well-nourished, and with photo ID. For eligibility information, visit www.vitalant.org.
14th Annual Bucket Brigade Blood Drive List
South Lake County Fire Protection District - Sunday, December 8, 2019 - 10:00am – 3:00pm
Fire Station: 21095 State Hwy 175, Middletown
Sebastopol Fire Department Tuesday, December 10, 2019 1:00pm – 6:00pm
Fire Station: 7425 Bodega Bay Ave, Sebastopol
Ukiah Valley Fire Authority Tuesday, December 17, 2019 2:00pm – 6:00pm
Fire Station: 300 Seminary, Ukiah
Graton Fire Protection District Wednesday, December 18, 2019 2:00pm – 6:00pm
Fire Station: 3750 Highway 116 North, Graton
Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District Friday, December 20, 2019 1:00pm – 6:00pm
Bloodmobile: 11000 Main St, Penngrove
Lakeport Fire Station Saturday, December 21, 2019 9:30am - 2:00pm
Fire Station: 445 N Main St., Lakeport
Fort Bragg Fire Department Monday, December 23, 2019 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Town Hall: 363 N. Main Street
Forestville Fire Department Thursday, December 26, 2019 2:00pm – 6:00pm
Bloodmobile: 6554 Mirabel Rd, Forestville
Mendocino Volunteer Fire Department Friday, January 3, 2020 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Fire Station: 44700 Little Lake Rd, Mendocino
Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety Saturday, January 4, 2020 9:00am – 2:00pm
Fire Station: 5200 Country Club, Rohnert Park
Santa Rosa Fire Department Wednesday, January 8, 2020 9:30am – 1:30pm
Bloodmobile: 2102 W. College Ave. Santa Rosa
Sonoma County Fire District Rincon Valley Thursday, January 9, 2020 2:00pm – 6:00pm
Fire Station: 91 Middle Rincon Rd, Santa Rosa
Geyserville Fire Protection District Friday, January 10, 2020 2:00pm - 7:00pm
Fire Station: 20975 Geyserville Ave, Geyserville
Hopland Volunteer Fire Department Monday, January 13, 2020 2:00pm – 6:00pm
Fire Station: 21 Feliz Creek Road, Hopland
Petaluma Fire Department Tuesday, January 14, 2020 8:00am - 1:00pm Fire Station: 198 D Street, Petaluma
Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue Authority Wednesday, January 15, 2020 1:30pm – 6:15pm
Bloodmobile: 630 Second Street West, Sonoma
Sonoma County Fire District Windsor Saturday, January 18, 2020 9:00am – 2:00pm
Fire Station 2: 8600 Windsor Rd, Windsor
Healdsburg Fire Department Saturday, January 25, 2020 9:00am - 2:00pm
Fire Station: 601 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg
Wilmar and San Antonio Volunteer Fire Departments Monday, January 27, 2020 2:00pm - 7:00pm
Wilmar Fire Station: 3825 Bodega Ave Petaluma
Cloverdale Fire Protection District Friday, January 31, 2020 2:00pm – 6:00pm
Fire Station: 451 S. Cloverdale Blvd, Cloverdale
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About Vitalant
Vitalant is the nation’s second largest community blood service provider, supplying comprehensive transfusion medicine services for nearly 1,000 hospitals and health care partners for patients in need across 40 states. Vitalant inspires local communities to serve the needs of others and transform lives through the selfless act of donating blood. Every day, almost 5,000 blood donations are needed to meet the needs of people throughout the country, and Vitalant’s 780,000 donors supply 1.8 million donations a year. In addition to blood products, Vitalant offers customers transfusion services, medical consulting, quality guidance, ongoing education, research and more. For more information and to schedule a donation, visit vitalant.org or call 877-258-4825 (877-25VITAL). Join the conversation about impacting the lives of others on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
