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Expanded Wesley Chapel Donor Center Unveiled

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By SHERRI LONON IN THE LOOP

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 22, 2008

After several months of taking donations in a mobile unit in the parking lot, Florida Blood Services officially reopened its Wesley Chapel Donor Center last week. The newly expanded center is designed to help the agency better serve the community and donors from the area.

"Wesley Chapel is fortunate to have a world-class provider of blood and blood services here in our neighborhood," said Elayne Bassinger, Wesley Chapel's honorary mayor, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 15. "It's comforting to have them here."

The Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce helped officials from Florida Blood Services cut the ribbon to mark the occasion.

The center closed in August for an expansion project that ultimately doubled its size from 1,200 square feet to 2,400. This enabled the center to up its bed count from six to 10, while also giving staff more room to work.

Prior to the expansion, Janice Oliver, donor room charge, said the project was greatly needed. She explained that on days when Florida Blood Services offered promotions, or announcements were made about supply shortages, the center's beds quickly filled up. In some cases, the wait to donate would climb to about 50 minutes.

The need for the expansion also was evidenced in the hard numbers, said Daniel Eberts, the spokesman for Florida Blood Services. The Wesley Chapel location has seen a 10 percent rise in donations since August 2006, and support continues to climb.

"We are growing," Eberts said. "We know this whole area is growing, which we hope will translate (into more donations). As our community continues to grow, the blood needs will continue, too."

Don Doddridge, CEO and president of Florida Blood Services, said the expansion shows the support Wesley Chapel area residents have for the nonprofit organization.

"I think it's probably everybody's dream (to have the need to expand a center)," he said. "I'm grateful for how the community has supported us."

For Wesley Chapel resident Tom Burt, giving blood whenever he can is a duty.

"I would hate to think there (could) be a human being that would need blood and can't get it," he said, while making a donation during the ribbon cutting. "What a simple and easy way to give back to mankind."

The 5319 Village Drive center is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Sunday hours are new to better accommodate platelet donors.

For more information about Florida Blood Services, visit fbsdonor.org or call the Wesley Chapel Donor Center at (813) 929-6500.

Editor Sherri Lonon can be reached at (813) 948-4287 or slonon@mediageneral.com.

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