Did you know that someone needs blood every two seconds? That means the need for donations is constant. Luckily, our staff are up to the challenge and eager to help.
CDCR and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) have teamed up with Vitalant to host a series of blood drives at Headquarters in Sacramento and Elk Grove.
Inside CDCR caught up with donors as they shared their reasons for giving blood and just how easy the process is – especially because Vitalant brings the donation center right to our offices.
The video is also available on YouTube.
“We’re just one natural disaster away from a lot of people needing blood so we all have to do our part and that’s what I’m trying to do,” said Jamison Battin.
Jennifer Neill agreed.
“It’s really easy. Use a tablet, like an iPad to answer a lot of the questions so it was easy technology. Very simple questions that anybody would know,” she said.
Donating blood for years
“I’ve been donating since 25 years old and I started donating because I felt it would establish a sense of community for me. I felt like I was giving something back to others, which it is,” said Roscoe Barrow.
Why donate?
“Because it saves lives. It’s the one little thing I can do that’s really not too inconvenient. It’s not troubling. It’s a little bit of time but it can actually save 2-3 lives every time I donate,” said Battin.
Making blood donations easy means more can give.
“Well I think it’s so easy when you just bring it to the workplace. You can do it over a break period or your lunch and just, you know, tell your supervisor that you want to donate blood and pop down and they take walk-ins as well as sign-ups,” said Neill.
For Mark Navarro, it’s about helping others.
“It’s just the right thing to do,” he said.
Neill sees donating blood as another aspect of improving quality of life in California.
“For CDCR and just for state government workers in general, we’re here to make a better California and to improve life for everyone and all citizens of California,” Neill said.
Giving blood is another way to donate to those in need.
“I enjoy giving and it is giving back. We have the food drives in the wintertime. We have the statewide charitable fund and all these other ways state workers can give back and this is just one more way to do the right thing,” said Barrow.
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