Community Blood Center of the Carolinas Expands to Hickory – New Donor Center Opens Today

The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) today announced the opening of its new donor center in Hickory, marking its fifth location in the region. Located in the Valley Corners Shopping Center at 2217 Hwy 70 SE, the new Hickory Center is open three days per week – Sundays through Tuesdays– with some evening appointments.

Hours of operation are: Sundays 7:30AM-5:00PM and Mondays 10:00AM-8:00PM. Tuesday hours will alternated weekly between an early and late schedule on an ongoing basis: 7:30AM-5:00PM (5/15) and 10:00AM-8:00PM (5/22).

Donors can donate both whole blood and platelets at the Hickory location, which will serve as the base for mobile blood collection and the distribution point for the hospitals in the Hickory region. The expanded mobile operations also enables area businesses, houses of faith, organizations and schools to sponsor CBCC blood drives at their respective location. To schedule an appointment to donate blood or platelets at the Hickory Center or plan a blood drive, call 704-972-4700 or visit www.cbcc.us/donate.

"We are excited to bring the donors of this region the opportunity to donate more consistently and also within their own community directly supporting local hospitals and patients," said Martin Grable, president and CEO of the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas. "This is a state-of the-art of the facility and Hickory's first blood distribution center that will play a major role in collecting blood and saving local lives."

The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas and the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening celebration on Tuesday, June 19 at 10:30 a.m. The event is open to the public and everyone is invited to come and visit CBCC's new facility and learn how they can help save local lives.

As the primary blood supplier to 21 area hospitals, including Catawba Valley Regional Medical Center, Frye Regional Medical Center, Carolinas Medical Center-Lincoln, Grace Hospital and Valdese Hospital, CBCC relies on local organizations and volunteer blood donors to help provide the nearly 400 blood products needed each day to treat area patients. CBCC operates four other donor centers regionally, including: Charlotte (4447 South Blvd.); Concord (363 Church Street North, Suite 170); Gastonia (2524 East Franklin Blvd, Suite E); and Monroe (600 Hospital Drive in CMC-Union).

About Community Blood Center of the Carolinas
The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) is a non-profit community-based blood center and the primary blood supplier to 21 regional hospitals, serving patients who live in 16 North Carolina and three South Carolina counties. The mission of CBCC is to be the steward of a community resource – life-saving blood and the vision is to help build and strengthen the bonds of community. CBCC is strictly a blood center, completely focused on gathering red blood cells, platelets and plasma from volunteer donors to save local lives – every drop of blood collected stays here to help people in the Carolinas. The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas is a member of America's Blood Centers, North America's largest network of community-based, independent blood centers providing more than 50% of the nation's blood supply.

Visit and bookmark CBCC's virtual press room today. Follow the Community Blood center of the Carolinas on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BloodCenter and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CBCCarolinas.

For more information, please visit: www.cbcc.us/

Contact Information:
Jenni Walker – Walker PR Group – 704-649-6571