Being There To Save Lives When It's Needed Most
With summer around the corner and the need for blood on the rise, thank you for standing strong in your commitment to community health.
This May, we’re reminded how powerful your generosity truly is.
In honor of Trauma Awareness Month, National EMS Week (May 18 -24), and World Thalassemia Day (May 8), we recognize the vital role you play in both emergency response and lifelong care.
Your impact is reaching even further now—through providing prehospital blood to a pilot program in Los Angeles, delivering blood directly to trauma scenes before patients reach the hospital. We’re also continuing to celebrate our 75th Anniversary. Throughout 2025, we’re recognizing this legacy of life-saving service by offering exclusive rewards to our Guardians Circle members—those donors who commit to giving regularly and making a lasting impact.
Thank you for standing with us. Together, we’re saving lives every day.
With heartfelt thanks,
Your Blood Bank Family
Blood Supply Needs
Blood Types O- & O+ are in high demand.
All blood types are needed. Schedule your next donation today!
💻 Log In to Donor Portal
📞 Call (619) 400-8251
Critical Need For Blood & Platelets
Blood is critically needed over the holiday weekend.
Help ensure blood is on the shelves to save lives!
MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY HOURS — MONDAY, MAY 26, 2025
We invite you to donate blood in memory of those who have served our county on Memorial Day at these select OPEN donor centers and blood drives.
DONOR CENTERS
Gateway Donor Center (San Diego) 7:00 am – 5:00 pm 
Schedule
Carmel Valley Donor Center (Carmel Valley) 8:00 am – 6:00 pm Schedule
BLOOD DRIVES
Jersey Mike’s – Mission Gorge (Santee) 9:00 am – 2:30 pm Schedule
Plaza at Silverhawk (Murrieta) 9:00 am – 2:00 pm Schedule
Grocery Outlet (Fallbrook) 7:45 am – 6:15 pm Schedule
News
The Gift That Can’t Wait: How Blood Donors Save Lives After Trauma
Life-saving Blood at the Scene of the Emergency
For local writer Elizabeth, a motorcycle accident nearly ended her life.
She suffered a devastating leg injury and lost consciousness quickly.
But a good Samaritan—who also happened to be a doctor—rushed to her side. He made a tourniquet from what he had and disappeared into the chaos.
Elizabeth was rushed into an ambulance, where she received a prehospital blood transfusion—the very reason she’s alive today.
Elizabeth continues to write, advocate, and donate blood, ensuring others can get the same second chance she did. As a member of our Team Survivor program, she often shares her story to bring awareness to the importance and impact of volunteer blood donation. Read More
San Diego Blood Bank is proud to announce our role in a groundbreaking new initiative in Southern California to bring blood directly to patients—before they ever reach a hospital.
LA-DROP Program Launches With Blood Provided by San Diego Blood Bank
In partnership with emergency responders across Los Angeles County including LA County Fire Department, Compton Fire Department, LA County EMS Agency, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, San Diego Blood Bank is now supplying whole blood for prehospital transfusions as part of the Los Angeles Donation Response Optimization Program (LA-DROP), a pilot program designed to save lives when every second counts.
And it’s already working.
- In April, a trauma victim in Compton received the program’s first prehospital blood transfusion thanks to whole blood donors, administered by the Compton Fire Department.
- Days later, the Los Angeles Fire Department treated a stabbing victim suffering from severe bleeding. The patient is stable and recovering.
- Recently, a third patient received a successful transfusion in an ambulance, marking another major milestone in this innovative program.
More exciting LA-DROP updates are coming soon—including how our O+ and O- Guardians Circle members will help power this life-saving work into the future with the Rapid Response Team.
Read the full story and meet the people your blood donations saved
Guardians Circle News
Guardians Circle Donor Pledge & Rewards Program
Guardians are an elite group of more than 13,480 heroes dedicated to donating blood regularly to ensure people in our region have access to life-saving blood. More of our donors are joining every month!
To our members, thank you for your commitment to your community!
Not yet a member?
Join Guardians: Be part of an elite group of lifesavers!
Donate Blood & Get Exclusive Donor Rewards & Updates sent to your inbox! 
Join Now
GUARDIANS CIRCLE MEMBER EXCLUSIVES:
Guardians Circle 75th Anniversary Celebration
As part of our 75th Anniversary Celebration, we’re honoring Guardians Circle members with exclusive branded appreciation gifts for hitting 3, 5, 10*, 16*, and 20* donation milestones in 2025! Check out the 3rd Donation Milestone Hat below!
GC75 Milestone Rewards
3 Donations = Eco-friendly Trucker Cap (Pictured)
5 Donations = Soft Microfleece Jacket
10 Donations = Recycled Cooler Tote
16 Donations = Performance Pullover (with Platelet Donor sleeve detail)
20 Donations = Invite to 75th Celebration Event + Stainless Steel Tumbler
PLUS: Donate at least once per quarter—or 4 times total in 2025—to earn the Limited-Edition Guardians Circle 75th Anniversary Pin!
Important Dates:
- May 26 — Last day to select Guardians Circle Choice Rewards! Check your email!
- June 1 — Not eligible to donate during the June promo? Keep an eye on your inbox for an exclusive email offer!
- June 30 — Donate by this date to qualify in Q2 for the Guardians 75th Anniversary Pin!
*Please note:
- Due to eligibility timing (a) Only plasma and platelet donors can donate 10 or more times in one year; (b) Only platelet donors can donate 16 or more times in a single year.
- Already reached a milestone? Donated in Q1 and Q2? Stay tuned for rewards info and check your email!
Questions about your Guardians status? Didn’t receive your email offer? Contact us at rewards@sdbb.org
Philanthropy
Bloodmobile is 100% Funded! Thank You!
We’re thrilled to announce that—thanks to the generosity of donors, community foundations, and corporate partners—we’ve successfully raised $750,000 for a brand-new bloodmobile!
We would like to thank San Diego Self Storage and Managing Partner, Anthony R. Carr, the John P. Martin Foundation, and Grossmont Healthcare District for their generous gifts that were pivotal to the success of this campaign.
The new bloodmobile is set to arrive in Fall 2025 and will create greater access to more communities in our region, and of course—more blood on the shelves to save lives. Every gift made this possible—and we couldn’t be more grateful. Thank you financial donors for partnering with us to keep our mission in motion. THANK YOU!
Next Up: Our greatest need now is a blood transport van that is critical to our operations.
These support the delivery and transport of blood to hospitals in emergencies and from blood drives to our labs. To support our fundraiser for this vehicle, consider making a gift today.
Make your gift today to help fund vital transport vehicles.
Connect To Life Event Stewards Financial Donors at San Diego Air & Space Museum
In April, San Diego Blood Bank hosted more than 100 advocates at our exclusive Connect to Life appreciation gathering at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
Attendees relished an impactful night filled with bonding, appreciation, and motivation, featuring a speech by Dr. Abisola Olulade of Sharp (pictured) highlighting the significance of a diverse donor base.
With tasty treats and a silent auction, the evening ended with a heartfelt presentation and performance by Maraya Performing Arts commemorating the resilience of its owner, Anjanette Maraya-Ramsey, a team Survivor member who benefitted from blood donations during her battle with leukemia.
Partner Highlight
Thank You, Scatena Daniels Communications!
San Diego Blood Bank’s partnership with Scatena Daniels Communications has amplified the critical need for blood donations, engaging the community through strategic storytelling and impactful campaigns. Together, we’ve increased donor participation, supported life-saving initiatives, and strengthened awareness of the Blood Bank’s vital role in the health of our community.
The agency recently helped with the opening of our Clairemont Mesa Donor Center and the official launch of our 75th Anniversary, with the celebration of local volunteer Jim Walker, who has donated a total of 170 gallons of blood over five decades.
Last Chance
PROMOTION: MAY 1 - 30, 2025
SAN DIEGO EXCLUSIVE
🩸 Give a little — Shine a Lot! 🌟 Donate Blood in May at any San Diego Blood Bank donor center or blood drive and take home a coupon* for a Complimentary Car Wash ($25 value) at Soapy Joe’s, while supplies last.
*While supplies last. Blood donors presenting at any San Diego Blood Bank mobile blood drive or donor center between 5/1/25-5/31/25 will receive one (1) coupon for a complimentary ‘Magic Joe’ Soapy Joe’s car wash valued at $25. Magic Joe Car Wash Coupons are valid at all Soapy Joe’s San Diego locations. Hours vary by location. Valid for one transaction only.*
IF coupons are available at the end of the promotion, item(s) will be raffled off to San Diego Guardians Circle members who were ineligible to donate.
PROMOTION: MAY 1 - 30, 2025
SOCAL EXCLUSIVE
🩸 Donate blood at Southern California Blood Bank Irvine Business District Donor Center or a blood drive in Orange and Los Angeles Counties and get one Mystery Merch branded item through May 31, while supplies last.
You could score branded socks, T-shirts, or even a 20 oz. Tumbler when you donate.
*Mystery Merch branded items are available while sizes and supplies last EXCLUSIVELY for May blood donors at Southern California Blood Bank Irvine Donor Center and blood drives in Orange County and Los Angeles through May 31, 2025.
Mark Your Calendar
PROMOTION: JUNE 1 - 30, 2025
SAN DIEGO EXCLUSIVE
A limited-edition Padres Summer Blood Drive item for all San Diego June donors!
🛡 Guardians Circle members who are not eligible to donate during June will receive an email offer in the first week of June to get a T-shirt in the mail, while sizes and supplies last!
*T-shirts are available while sizes and supplies last EXCLUSIVELY for June blood donors at San Diego centers and blood drives June 1 – 30, 2025.
PROMOTION: JUNE 1 - 30, 2025
SOCAL EXCLUSIVE
A limited-edition SoCal Summer Blood Donor T-shirt exclusively for Orange County and Los Angeles County donors in June!
*T-shirts are available while sizes and supplies last EXCLUSIVELY for June blood donors at Southern California Blood Bank Irvine and Orange County and Los Angeles County blood drives from June 1 – 30, 2025. SoCal Guardians who are not eligible to donate in June will not automatically receive this T-shirt offer. IF T-shirts are available at the end of the promotion, item(s) will be raffled off to Guardians who were ineligible to donate.
WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY
JUNE 14, 2025
We love our BLOOD DONORS! 
Throughout June, we’re celebrating blood donors and the incredible ways you make a difference for people in our region.
Stay connected with us to get in on the fun!
PLEASE NOTE: All donor appreciation items are non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, and have no market value.
