Onvida Health Blood Drive Draws Donors, Helps Ease Holiday Shortage

On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Onvida Health held a blood drive at the Onvida Health Administrative Center, 2400 S Avenue A in Yuma, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event invited community members to donate blood to support local hospitals and emergency services during a period when supplies typically fall as fewer drives are scheduled around holidays.

Organized in partnership with Vitalant, the drive gave residents an opportunity to make a direct impact on patient care. Organizers emphasized that a single blood donation can save up to three lives, and that donations collected now can be especially important for surgeries, trauma care, and chronic transfusion needs over the holiday period. Advanced appointments were encouraged to streamline check in and collection, with donors able to register online at donors.vitalant.org using the Onvida Health Blood Drive Code yumaregional. Those seeking assistance with scheduling could contact Elizabeth Hammonds at 928-336-1105 or email volunteerservices@onvidahealth.org.

Beyond immediate patient benefit, the drive highlighted broader public health and equity issues in Yuma County. Blood availability is a foundational element of emergency preparedness, and communities with fewer convenient donation opportunities can face greater risk when inventories dip. Local drives at accessible locations like the administrative center help lower barriers such as transportation and time off work, and they increase the diversity of the donor pool which is important for matching rare blood types.

For residents who were unable to attend Tuesday, Onvida Health and its partners maintain contact channels for future opportunities and questions. Volunteer Services can be reached at 928-336-1105 or volunteerservices@onvidahealth.org. Registering in advance at donors.vitalant.org with code yumaregional is the recommended way to secure a spot at upcoming drives and to support the countys health care system during high need periods.