The United Blood Services has been around for more than 75 years, but don’t expect to see that name in the future. The company is now known as Vitalant.
“Our name Vitalant comes from the word ‘vital’ and ‘ant,’ meaning full of life,” Brandon Baker, senior recruitment manager of Vitalant, said. “So, it’s that vital need that we’re trying to get across, not just the name, but in our actions and the way that we’re providing for our local hospitals.”
Nationally, Vitalant operates 127 different blood centers under one umbrella, Baker said.
It is important moving forward to be known under one name, Baker said, as the company works to save lives each year.
“Nationwide, we have about 5,000 employees under Vitalant, and we draw about 30 million pints of blood a year,” he said.
Closer to home, there is a vital need for the community to know that even though the name may be different, Vitalant is still the local neighborhood blood donation center.
“Here in our South Plains area, we use a lot of blood,” Baker said. “It’s over 100 pints of blood every single day in Lubbock and our surrounding communities, so we’re just want to make sure that the community knows that Vitalant is the old United Blood Services.”
Anyone 16 years of age and older, in good health and has a valid ID can become a donor. One pint of blood goes a long way.
“We still need you. We still need the community to come in and donate blood because it really does make a difference,” said Baker.
