Your company, school, church or organization can help in the effort to save lives. By hosting blood drives, your organization can make blood donation convenient for its members, provide essential support to patients in your community, and help the organization become more civically minded.

One out of three people will use blood products at one time in their life. In that instance you, your family, and your friends will need the support of volunteer blood donors. By sponsoring a blood drive at your site, you and your group can help save lives.

Contact LifeShare Blood Centers Recruiting Department in Monroe/Ruston, Shreveport/Bossier City, Alexandria, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge and Beaumont, TX and you will be assigned a Donor Recruiter who will assist you in setting up your blood drive and group benefit.

This is What will Happen

• You and your donor recruiter will set up a date, hours of the drive, blood drive location and a blood drive goal.
• Choose the day of the week that would best suit your organization/business as far as when the most members/employees will be there.
• Choose the hours that most people will be able to give.
• Set a reasonable number of units that you expect your group can achieve.
• Ask donors to sign up to give blood at the drive.
• Find the best location to have the drive (a large enough room to accommodate number of donors or a mobile donor coach with adequate space to park and for the donor coach to be easily accessible.

Promote the Drive

• Schedule a meeting with your Donor Recruiter 4-6 weeks if possible before the blood drive in order to discuss the upcoming drive and any ideas each of you have to promote it.
• Your Donor Recruiter will bring posters and fliers with date, time and location of the drive to post and hand out to potential donors. Also available are prepared announcements to be read over the loudspeaker, tent cards, yard signs, etc.
• If possible, appoint a Drive Coordinating Committee to help in promotion of the blood drives and recruitment of donors.
• Involve the media.
• Call, E-mail potential donors to remind them of the drive.
• Post blood drives in internal newsletters/bulletins.
• Put together a calling committee to call donors the day before the blood drive.
• Acquire additional incentives/giveaways for donors.
• Set up speaking opportunities for yourself and/or your donor recruiter: i.e. safety meetings, department meetings, luncheons, etc.
• Ask any possible volunteers to help in registration, traffic flow, and refreshments during the drive.
• Schedule donors whenever possible. Having people sign up to give prior to the drive helps ensure a successful blood drive by adding a level of commitment from potential donors.

Site Preparation

• Ensure the room is unlocked, clear of furniture and clean for the technicians to come in and set up for the blood drive.
• Ensure there are adequate light, heat and air-conditioning for a safe environment in which to donate.
• Ensure there is access to electrical outlets.
• Ensure there are several large wastebaskets available.
• Ensure there are two tables and enough chairs.
• Inform the LifeShare staff of the nearest water fountain and restrooms.

Upon the Collection Staff Arrival

• Ensure arrangements have been made for parking.
• Ensure arrangements have been made to have the unloading site accessible to the drive site.
• Ensure parking space has been reserved if using the donor coach.
• If donors are scheduled please provide the staff with the schedule.

• Corporate Office
• Service Area
• Alexandria
• Baton Rouge
• Beaumont
• Lake Charles
• Monroe/Ruston
• Shreveport/Bossier