This summer, Central Self Storage will host six blood drives in cooperation with Stanford Blood Center at several of its facilities in California. The decision was made in response to an announcement that San Jose State University (SJSU) has decided to ban blood drives on its campus, where close to 1,000 units of blood were previously collected each year by Stanford and the American Red Cross.  
 
“I was saddened by SJSU’s decision to ban blood drives. Stanford Hospital saved my husband’s life in 1994, and donating blood is the right thing to do,” Cathi Rosas, regional manager of Central Self Storage, told the Alameda Sun. Due to increased use at area hospitals, Stanford Blood Center is significantly low in types O, A-positive and B-negative.
 
Rosas approached the blood center about holding drives during Customer Appreciation Days at Central Self Storage facilities in the San Francisco Bay Area. Existing tenants will enjoy hot dogs and soda; new customers will get a move-in discount; and blood donors will receive a credit good toward storage rental.
 
The first blood drive took place in Alameda on June 7. The remaining events will be held from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the following Saturdays: 

Detailed location info can be found at www.centralselfstorage.com. To make an appointment, donors can call Stanford Blood Center at 650.723.7831 or 888.723.7831, or book online at http://bloodcenter.stanford.edu. They should be in good health with no symptoms of cold or flu. Prior to donating, they should eat well and drink lots of fluids. Donors will be asked to present photo identification at the donation site. The process takes about an hour.