Beyond the Badge, Community Involvement, Front page

RJD staff roll up sleeves to donate blood

August 13, 2026

RJ Donovan (RJD) Correctional Facility staff members rolled up their sleeves to support the community by donating life-saving blood to the San Diego Blood Bank.

The successful blood drive was held Aug. 4.

Oscar Labiano, Territorial Manager of the San Diego Blood Bank, praised the facility’s effort and impact.

“Because of your dedication and deep empathy, we achieved something miraculous,” Labiano said.

He went on to thank the staff for their vital contributions to the regional blood supply.

Blood-drive performance highlights

A man in a white shirt donates blood at RJD.

The event saw a strong turnout from staff members determined to make a difference.

Registered donors: 36 staff members signed up to participate.
Total collections: 31 life-saving units of blood were successfully collected.
Whole blood: 29 units were drawn from standard donations.
Double Red Cell (2RBC): One donor contributed a double red-cell donation, yielding two units.

Impact on the San Diego community

Every unit of blood collected has the potential to save up to three lives. Thanks to the generosity of the RJD staff, this single drive will ripple out to touch and save up to 93 lives in the San Diego region, including our local children, mothers, fathers, and friends.

“The blood drive demonstrated selflessness and community dedication of RJD staff,” said organizers.

Submitted by Lt. K. Cottrell

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