A long time Alpine resident and blood donor, Stephen McMeeken, donated his 150th gallon of blood on Monday, April 4th at 1:15 p.m. at the San Diego Blood Bank's East County Donor Center, located at 776 Arnele Avenue, El Cajon 92020. McMeeken's donation took place one day after his 66th birthday.

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 donates platelets, blood cells that help control bleeding, 24 times each year. Patients undergoing bone marrow transplants, surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation treatments, or organ transplants often need platelets to survive.

San Diego Blood Bank is dedicated to community health by providing a reliable supply of blood to patients in need. Their vision is to further ensure the health of our community by simultaneously delivering related health and wellness education and services and extending into research. Founded in 1950 with the support of the San Diego County Medical Society, San Diego Blood Bank is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit that serves hospitals in San Diego, Orange, Imperial, and Los Angeles counties with blood transfusion products and reference laboratory services. San Diego Blood Bank currently operates 6 local donor centers and 10 bloodmobiles. San Diego Blood Bank’s Cell Therapy Program provides lifesaving stem cell transplants to patients worldwide.

For more information about SDBB, call 1-800-4MY-SDBB or visit the website

Community Service & Youth