Blood Bank of Delmarva cuts ribbon at Dagsboro donor center

The Blood Bank of Delmarva held a grand opening for its new Dagsboro donor center June 15.

The opening of its fifth donor center and the first in Sussex County comes at a critical time as the region experiences a blood shortage with a 3-day blood supply.

“After many successful mobile drives in the region, we saw the need to provide the community with a permanent donor center in Dagsboro,” said Patty Killeen, senior executive director. “Every week, we need over 1,800 blood and platelet donors to roll up their sleeves so we can meet our hospital demand and patient need. This center alone has over 65 appointments available every day to help meet that need.”

Delmarva’s healthcare system requires 350 to 380 donations each day to treat patients ranging from trauma victims, to newborn babies and their mothers, to cancer patients. Prior to the pandemic, donors could stop by community blood drives at convenient locations in Kent and Sussex counties, but nearly all high schools, colleges, offices and other community groups have had to cancel their blood drives due to COVID-19, with a few exceptions such as Sussex Tech High School.

Mobile donations are at just 43 percent of pre-pandemic levels, and 5,000 donors have not returned since the pandemic onset. Blood banking officials at the local and national levels are currently dealing with blood shortages.

“Sussex County is growing, as are Beebe Healthcare and the Blood Bank of Delmarva with this wonderful new facility,” said Dr. David A. Tam, Beebe Healthcare president and CEO. “Beebe’s brand-new South Coastal emergency department and cancer center is close to this new center. With an increased number of visitors and the growth of residents and workers, blood is a critical healthcare supply that is needed to care for patients from trauma to surgery.”

“Without selfless donors, we would not have our son with us today,” Shane Simmons said. “It's something so small that makes such a huge difference in someone's life.” Her son Maverick received eight units of blood during his hospital stay at Nemours as a premature baby.

One of those donors who definitely has done his part to ensure babies like Maverick get the blood they need is Thomas Glenn, who has donated 5 gallons of blood with BBD.

“I believe in serving and helping your community, and giving blood is just another way of helping. You are saving lives,” Glenn said. “One of the nice things about the new Dagsboro Donor Center is that I can walk there. Now, I know everyone can't walk there, but it is centrally located, which makes it easier for a lot of people.”

The new donor center is at 32442 Royal Blvd., Dagsboro. For more information, go to delmarvablood.org or call 888-825-6638.