A blood donor speaks with DJ Joe Brazil. Photo by Elise Spleiss

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - “Patients don’t take a holiday from needing blood,” according to the Vitalant website. Vitalant provides blood and special services to patients in about 900 hospitals across the U.S.

To help fill this need throughout the region, 98 Rock station deejay Joe Brazil; Kristin Conner, Vitalant’s communications manager; and Audacy, Inc, a broadcasting company, have something in common. They planned for the recent 33rd annual three-day 98 Rock ‘N Roll Up Your Sleeve Blood Drive for months.

Since 1992, Vitalant Blood has partnered with Sacramento’s largest rock station, 98 Rock, to help ensure that patients have the blood they need throughout the holiday season.

Myki of Audacy, far left, stands with Vitalant volunteers Russell Muir, Isabella and Erin Baker. Photo by Elise Spleiss

“We are the voice for the blood drives, broadcasting actively before and during the events with a lot of giveaways to blood donors,” Brazil said.

From Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, 152 individuals came out to save lives through blood donations during the blood drive at the Marketplace at Birdcage Center in Citrus Heights. Blood donations are delivered to hospitals as quickly as they are collected.

Donors arrived from throughout the Sacramento area and beyond. They waited in line on chairs next to the three bloodmobiles on Nov. 29, one bloodmobile on Nov. 30 and two bloodmobiles on Dec. 1. 

Vitalant volunteers greeted donors at tables in front of the bloodmobile. Russell Muir of Carmichael, previously with Blood Source for 20 years, and Erin Baker, with Vitalant for 13 years, registered donors who had appointments as they arrived and put walk-ups on a waiting list. No one was turned away.

Donors again walked away with this year’s 98 Rock Blood Drive T-shirt. As shirts are accumulated over the years, donors often turn them into a colorful quilt.

A resident donates blood in the Bloodmobile. Photo by Elise Spleiss

This is Brazil’s second year with 98 Rock and Audacy, and he is “enthusiastic about their work in the community not only during the holiday blood drives but year-round.”

Brazil said he does outreach in communities that the station reaches on the air, “all the way from close to the Bay Area, past Grass Valley and into Sacramento.”

“I look forward to doing this all year. My favorite is always the community initiatives,” Brazil said. “When 98 Rock and Audacy Sacramento can get behind something that positively benefits the community, that’s what really stands with me and with the community. It’s always a blessing and a pleasure.”

According to Brazil, “the music is a great way to gain exposure” for Vitalant. 

 “We are super thankful for our partnership with 98Rock. It’s a wonderful collaboration for an awesome cause during a holiday when these blood donations are low,” Connors said.

Donors wait to donate as the weather finally warms up. Photo by Elise Spleiss

Vitalant’s goal is for a four to five-day blood supply, but today, it often faces days with one to two-days’ supply only. The Vitalant staff counts on community members for their generosity and dependability.

Visit online Vitalant.org or call 877-258-4825 to make a blood donation appointment or for more information about Vitalant.