Community called to donate as national blood supply remains critically low
By JARED HENDERSON | [email protected]
MEEKER | When the Meeker Regional Library opens their doors for a community blood drive on July 21, visitors won’t be checking out books or attending a storytime. Instead, they’ll have the opportunity to help save lives.
The blood drive, hosted in partnership with Vitalant, marks the first time the library has hosted such an event, according to Library Director Kristina Selby. While the event is new, Selby said the motivation behind it aligns with the library’s long-standing mission of serving the community.
“It kind of fell into our lap,” Selby said. “They reached out to us, and our staff is phenomenal at always looking for ways for the library to bring something to the community. When they contacted us, we thought, ‘What a great opportunity to bring this to Meeker.”’
The event comes as blood centers across the country continue to report critically low inventories of all blood types. Vitalant recently declared an emergency blood shortage for Type O blood in Colorado and Wyoming, citing increased summer demand, trauma cases and fewer donations during vacation months. Blood donations are needed every day to support patients undergoing surgery, cancer treatment, emergency care and treatment for chronic illnesses.
For Selby, hosting a blood drive is a natural extension of what today’s public library represents.
“We’re more than that,” she said. “We’re a community hub. We’re always looking for ways to show what an important resource the library is to the community, and we are about community engagement, community connection. Opportunities like this can really showcase that and really bring the community together.”
The blood drive will be held Tuesday, July 21, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Meeker Regional Library, 400 Main St. Appointments can be made through vitalant.org (search by location), the library’s social media pages, or walk-ins will be accepted as space allows. As the library prepares to welcome donors, Selby hopes residents will take advantage of the opportunity to support neighbors in need and see the library as a place where the community comes together to make a difference.
“I hope people take away the different ways that they can help,” she said. “Different ways that we can come together and help support each other, which is also why we’re here.”
While the blood drive is a new addition to the library’s calendar, it joins a growing list of programs designed to bring residents together.
The library is currently in the midst of its annual summer reading program, open to readers of all ages. Selby said this is the third year the program has included adults, encouraging literacy throughout the community.
Beyond summer reading, the library hosts a monthly cookbook club, book club, adult craft nights, craft afternoons, Close Knit gatherings and upcoming wilderness education programs.
“Our library staff are really incredible with the programs that they’re coming up with,” Selby said. “They really put a lot of hard work and dedication into creating these programs for the community.”
Whether residents stop by to borrow a book, learn a new skill, connect with neighbors or donate blood, Selby hopes they see the library as a place where the community comes together.
“Our vision is always very community-focused, very community-centered,” she said. “Programs like this can really highlight that and bring the community together.”
Selby hopes residents will see the event as another reminder that the library is more than a place to borrow books—it’s a place where the community comes together to make a difference.