Carter BloodCare thanks H-E-B partners at luncheon in Waco
Carter BloodCare celebrated the conclusion of the 20th Annual H-E-B Challenge with a luncheon hosted by Carter BloodCare executive staff in Waco. Store managers from H-E-B locations all over Central and North Texas were invited to a lunch and award presentation to celebrate the conclusion of the two-week blood drive, held from June 24 to July 9.
“We are proud to celebrate 20 years of partnership with H-E-B here in Central Texas,” Vickie Carpenter, Manager of Mobile Donor Recruitment said. “Through the hard work of these store managers, H-E-B drive coordinators and our dedicated field recruiters, we have been able to save 26,745 lives over the course of 20 years, including 1,317 this year alone.”
In total, 23 stores across North, Central and East Texas participated in this year’s blood drive, leading to 1,317 lives saved. Representatives from each store were present for the luncheon, receiving awards for their various successes, from meeting drive goals to largest increases in donations to the most donations overall.
“H-E-B is always involved in its communities, and this is just another way that we can support,” Bonnie Erlanson said, Center Store Leader at H-E-B. “Just seeing that we really can help by donating blood and truly saving our neighbor’s lives, it gives you a sense of pride. We’ve partnered with Carter BloodCare for 20 years now and the mission of both H-E-B and Carter BloodCare overlaps in such a positive way. We want our stores to have a positive impact on every neighborhood we are in and partnering with Carter BloodCare has proven to be a great way of doing just that.”
With the continued success of this drive, Carter BloodCare is already looking forward to next year’s drive. The 2024 drive will take place from June 22 to July 7.
This partnership is crucial in the effort to maintain an adequate blood supply throughout the summer months. Blood donations usually drop during the summer when high school students and faculty go on break – up to 25% of the community blood supply is collected through high school blood drives. Also, with people focused on family vacations, blood donations can drop.