PAUL BARRETT/The Luminary At the community blood bank on November 13th at the Muncy Valley Hospital, donors were able to give blood at the mobile blood unit. Left to right are: Stephanie Phillips Taggart, Community Relations coordinator; Melissa Bunce, a donor; and Marty Hamilton, lab assistant.

MUNCY – The UPMC Susquehanna Health Muncy Valley Hospital has a new partner. Introduced on November 13th, the Community Blood Bank (CBB) has been encouraging many to donate blood-giving others a reason to give thanks.

“One blood donation can impact up to three lives,” says Lora Cope, CBB Mobile Drive Coordinator. “Imagine how grateful you would be to donors, if you or a loved one needed a blood transfusion. The life-saving gift can touch the lives of accident victims, surgical patients and those fighting cancer just to name a few.”

In effort to bolster the local blood supply, UPMC Susquehanna’s Muncy Valley campus hosted the CBB’s mobile blood drive unit from 1-5p.m. The new 38-foot Winnebago RV, affectionately known as Winnie, was parked on hospital grounds located at 215 East Water Street.

Blood donation appointments are not necessary, but can be made if preferred. Eligible donors should be healthy, over 110 pounds, and be at least 17 years of age. In addition, a 56-day time period is required from previous donations.

While new to Williamsport, the CBB has been successfully hosting drives and supplying blood throughout Pennsylvania and the northern tier for years-including UPMC Susquehanna’s Soldiers + Sailors Memorial Hospital in Tioga County.

“We are excited about expanding services into Lycoming County,” says Cope. “Future drives will be held on a rotating basis at each of UPMC Susquehanna’s Lycoming County campuses.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment to donate blood, contact 877-842-0631 or visit FourHearts.org.

About Community Blood Bank

As a non-profit organization, Community Blood Bank has been providing a safe, reliable supply of volunteer blood to hospitals through regional partnerships since 1966. Community Blood Bank is regulated by the Food & Drug Administration and licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The organization is an independent blood center and is a current member of multiple nationally recognized blood banking associations such as the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) and America’s Blood Centers (ABC).