Claudine Van Gonka, Manager, Public Relations, San Diego Blood Bank

Long time Alpine resident and blood donor Stephen McMeeken donated his 170th gallon of blood on  October 14, 2019 to the San Diego Blood Bank. McMeeken started donating blood in 1976 when he and his wife were expecting their first child and were encouraged to join the “Stork Club”, which promoted umbilical cord blood banking and donation.

McMeeken now donates platelets – which are blood cells that help control bleeding - 24 times each year in memory of his nephew Tom, who died of a blood disorder 6 years ago. Patients undergoing bone marrow transplants, surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation treatments or organ transplants often need platelets to survive.

Blood donation is one of the most important things you can do for others. It can help save the life of a premature infant or trauma victim, or vastly improve the health of someone fighting a chronic disease or cancer. Donating blood empowers healthy people to share the gift of health, which in turn keeps neighbors and community members alive and thriving.

To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 114 pounds and be in general good health. Eligible blood donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment to give by visiting www.SanDiegoBloodBank.org/Donate or calling 1-800-4-MY-SDBB (1-800-469-7322).

Hosting a blood drive is one of the most impactful ways to help families in Southern California. We are here to support you every step of the way to make your blood drive a success. To get started, please contact Maria Rodriguez at (619) 400-8238 or email hostablooddrive@sdbb.org, or fill out an inquiry form on our website.