Blood Assurance officially opens the doors to its new brick-and-mortar donation center in Fort Oglethorpe this week.
A ribbon cutting celebration is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Wednesday. The event is open to the public and will include guest speakers and refreshments.
Located in Boynton Ridge Plaza at 3811 Battlefield Pkwy., the facility is going to give individuals from Northwest Georgia the opportunity to donate lifesaving blood, plasma, platelets and double red blood cells. The 2,000-square-foot stand-alone building features three donor screening rooms, six donor beds and a refreshment area.
“We are ecstatic to be opening a state-of-the-art center in Fort O,” said Blood Assurance CEO J.B. Gaskins. “Our job is to save lives, and with this new, strategic location, it allows us to build on that in the Peach State.”
The building replaces Blood Assurance’s smaller donation center on Lafayette Road, and is located adjacent to a Publix supermarket. Blood Assurance has been operating in the Fort Oglethorpe community for nearly 50 years. It was the first location outside of Chattanooga where the company opened a donation center. Present day, Blood Assurance is the sole supplier of blood and blood products to the city’s CHI Memorial Hospital, officials said.
“When it comes time to help, this is a very giving community,” said Fort Oglethorpe Mayor Earl Gray. “You never know when you are going to need blood. We are very fortunate to have Blood Assurance and this brand new facility in our city.”
Blood donors will be able to donate in Fort Oglethorpe during the following hours:
Monday: 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Tuesday: 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Thursday: 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Friday: 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Sunday: CLOSED
Donors can schedule an appointment online at www.bloodassurance.org/schedule, calling 800-962-0628, or texting BAGIVE to 999777. Walk-ins are also accepted.
To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids — avoiding caffeine — and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating.