ARC looks to increase blood reserves

Published 12:00 am Thursday, March 10, 2005

Last year, the Alabama chapters of the American Red Cross (ARC) had to import a total of 15,000 units of blood from other states within the country.

“The demand (for blood) is outweighing the supply, and is only getting worse,” said Keith Jordan, Communications Manager for the Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Region of the ARC Blood Services. “We are having to go outside of our state to help keep us alive here in Alabama.” According to Jordan, 70% of Alabama’s residents are eligible to give blood, but only 4% do so.

To help raise awareness of the importance of donating blood, and to show how the ARC helps people in different communities, the nation, and around the world, a new advertising campaign called “There is a Place” is being launched. This campaign will replace “Together, We Prepare”.

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“This (new campaign) kind of builds on the “Together, We Prepare” campaign,” said Jordan. “It is a bridge to the future that explains to the community and the public that although the ARC is made up of several chapters, together, we serve Alabama.”

According to Jordan, the idea for the new campaign may have come about from the events of September 11. “After the attack, the way we thought about community changed. We all lost loved ones who lived in all parts of the country.”

Jordan hopes that the new campaign will appeal to people and get them interested in donating blood.