Opportunities From: Volunteer Spokane

What do we all have in common that instantly connects us and gives us the power to do more? It’s the blood pulsing within each of us. This amazing, ever-replenishing gift is truly a natural resource that, when shared, speeds healing and provides comfort. Lifesaving blood offers second chances and many tomorrows to those who depend on it.

Each year, nearly 5 million Americans need blood transfusions. Blood helps trauma and burn patients, premature infants, heart surgery patients, organ transplant recipients and those fighting cancer, among others. In emergencies, it’s the blood already on hospital shelves that saves lives. Learn more about what makes blood so special.

Donating blood is one of the easiest ways to give back to your community. If you’ve never donated blood before, we encourage you to try! We’ll guide you through every step and answer any questions. Here’s what you can expect, eligibility requirements and things you can do ahead of time to make your experience pleasant and rewarding.

Donation Process
It takes about an hour—from the time you arrive to the time you leave—to complete a whole blood donation. The actual donation time is only about 10 minutes. Whole blood donation is most often given by new donors and is the most common type of donation. We also use special technology  to collect specific blood components—red blood cells, platelets and plasma—from donors to best match current patient needs.

Before you roll up your sleeve to help someone else, please take care of yourself:

Eat a healthy, low-fat meal within two hours ahead of your donation. The day before, eat a salty snack. When you donate blood, you lose about a gram of salt. Replacing it ahead of time helps keep your blood pressure normal.
Hydrate by drinking 8 to 16 ounces of non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverages one hour before you donate. Water is a great choice.
Avoid or limit caffeinated sodas, coffee, iced tea and energy drinks on the day of donation.

Your simple, lifesaving action today has the remarkable power to transform lives for many tomorrows. We are grateful you are in our community and we are inspired by your decision to help others.

Sign up/In--https://donors.vitalant.org/dwp/portal/dwa/redirect

Contact Us--https://www.vitalant.org/Resources/Contact-Us.aspx?Form=2

Inspiring others to give blood by hosting a blood drive is a rewarding way to benefit your community. It’s also an opportunity to give your organization’s members a chance to share in the wonder of transforming the lives of others. At Vitalant, we have thousands of volunteers we call blood drive coordinators, who partner with us to ensure a safe blood supply is always available for patients who need it.

Blood drives can be held at businesses, schools, places of worship, community and civic organizations—anywhere enough people are willing to roll up their sleeves to save lives. In fact, more than half of the blood we collect comes from our mobile blood drive programs.

We have just a few basic requirements for successful blood drives*:

We ask for a minimum of 30 people who are committed to participate in a blood drive. We will supply you with tools to help you measure the level of interest in your organization.
You must have either an inside location that meets certain requirements for staff and equipment or an outside location suitable for a bloodmobile.
You will be working with experienced donor recruitment representatives, who will guide you every step of the way to ensure your blood drive is a success.

If you would like to learn more about becoming a volunteer blood drive coordinator, please complete our host blood drive form below. Once completed, an email will be sent to a local donor recruitment representative in your area who will contact you within three working days.

Join us and, together, we’ll do something amazing to change people’s lives.

*If your group doesn't meet these requirements, please reach out to us. We would love to talk about alternative partnership opportunities.

https://www.vitalant.org/Resources/Contact-Us.aspx?Form=1

Currently, all orientations will be online through email. Please check your spam folder for missed emails. 

Vitalant Lewiston fixed site needs help with refreshment post blood donations. You will provide refreshments/snacks/drinks while watching for donor reactions.

Also, wiping down surfaces in the refreshment area, i.e. booklets, chairs, tables etc.

Reply here or email for an application. volunteer@inbcsaves.org

View schedules here: www.bit.ly/Vitalant

Volunteers are critical for Vitalant operations. Join a team who help to make a valuable difference for our community. 

1 in 8 U.S. Women will develop breast cancer - You can help!

Loucinda D. received a devastating breast cancer diagnosis when she was in her 30s. Chemotherapy treatments and their side effects were rough enough—then she needed platelets, which weren’t immediately available. 

“In order to receive chemo, your platelets have to be above 100,000 and mine were 9,000. I headed to the emergency room for a platelet transfusion, only to have to wait for platelets to be driven to the hospital from two hours away.” 

Blood donors ensure that the one in eight women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer, like Loucinda, don’t have to wait for relief. Platelets, the part of blood that makes it clot, are one of the three components (along with red blood cells and plasma) that each blood donation provides. 

“I could have died without platelets. Platelets are extremely important to cancer patients like me,” says Loucinda. She also received two red blood cell transfusions during her treatment, and has been cancer-free for four years. “Every year that goes by, is one more year to be thankful to be alive!”

Your unique blood type is especially needed at this time to help hospital patients!

Your blood donation for Breast Cancer Awareness Month gives patients like Loucinda hope – and one less thing to worry about as they fight their disease. 

 

 

Vitalant

Schedule Now  

Learn more about platelet donation

Currently, all orientations will be online through email. Please check your spam folder for missed emails. 

Refreshments: Need for Saturdays

Main job duties will be giving refreshments to donors after their donation. You'll also chat with the donor while watching for adverse reactions. Reactions are rare, but can happen at any time, usually within 15 minutes of donating. We also ask that each table, chair etc are sanitized after each donor, keep the area clean and tidy and restock snacks/juices by end of shift.

Currently, all orientations will be online through email. Please check your spam folder for missed emails. 

Apply here or email volunteer@inbcsaves.org

Our Locations: 2593 US Hwy 2 East, Kalispell, MT 59901

You can view schedules here: www.bit.ly/Vitalant

***We are not currently accepting court ordered community service***

***All staff, donors and volunteers must wear a mask while in the building***

We will reach out via email provided. Please check spam folder for missed emails. Orientations are currently being processed online. 

Interested in Volunteering?

Volunteers are critical for Vitalant operations. Join a team who help to make a valuable difference for our community. Respond to need below or email volunteer@inbcsaves.org for an application.

We ask that volunteers commit to 30 hours per year. 

* MOBILE SERVICES: Various Hours 

Couriers travel throughout the Inland Northwest to our mobile blood drives. The blood products are picked up at the mobile site mid-way through the blood drive and are brought back to the regional headquarters in Downtown Spokane. Vitalant provides all transportation vehicles and fuel for this service.

* TRANSFUSION SERVICES: 8am-12pm 

Couriers travel throughout the area to various local hospitals. Couriers will collect blood and samples and bring to Vitalant for testing in our transfusion dept. Vitalant provides all transportation vehicles and fuel for this service.

* HOSPITAL SERVICES: Various Shifts 

Couriers travel throughout the Inland Northwest to our outlying hospital and fixed sites. The blood products are picked up or exchanged and are brought back to the regional headquarters in Downtown Spokane. Vitalant provides all transportation vehicles and fuel for this service.

***Couriers must be at least 19 years old***

***Must pass background and DOL check***

***We are currently not accepting court ordered community service.***

 

Currently, all orientations will be online through email. Please check your spam folder for missed emails.

Refreshments: Main job duties will be giving refreshments to donors after their donation. You'll also chat with the donor while watching for adverse reactions. Reactions are rare, but can happen at any time, usually within 15 minutes of donating. We also ask that each table, chair etc are sanitized after each donor, keep the area clean and tidy and restock snacks/juices by end of shift.

Our Locations: Spokane RHQ, North Spokane, Spokane Valley, CDA, Lewiston and Kalispell.

You can view schedules here: www.bit.ly/Vitalant

***We are not currently accepting court ordered community service***

***All staff, donors and volunteers must wear a mask while in the building***

***We ask our volunteers to commit 30 hours per year***

***Background check is required***