The nation is in the midst of a blood shortage due to the coronavirus pandemic, impacting the supply at San Luis Obispo County hospitals where patients depend on blood donated from community members. Hospitals receive blood from Vitalant, formerly United Blood Services, and give it to patients every day—not only for emergencies but also as part of cancer therapy, surgery, and treatment for burns or blood disorders. Vitalant has seen a 10% decline in Central Coast donors in the past 12 months compared to the year before. There were 58,000 fewer individuals who gave blood in 2021 compared with 2020.

On Thursday, March 3, our club answered the call and held a very successful blood drive. According to Vital- ent, they collected 41 pints of blood! Not only did we hit your goal, we went over by 14 and this is the most we have ever collected at the Dave Melendy drive which we hold 4 times a year!!!! 1 pint of blood can save up to 3 lives, this drive alone can help save up to 123 lives! Cambria Rotary is proud to have played a part in this by organizing the drive, manning the check-in table and donating blood.