Montana Red Cross unveiled a new Bozeman Blood Donation Center on Nov. 14 with a grand opening event featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony, speakers and tours of the facility.

The Bozeman center, 221 E. Oak St., features a fresh new look, which will provide a better donor and volunteer experience, and space for two additional donor beds and more staff.  More than 40 people, including a team from the Bozeman Chamber of Commerce, were on hand for the festivities.

Montana Red Cross board members Craig Stahlberg and Mike Augustine emceed the grand opening. Paul Vaughn of Libby spoke about why his family is supporting this Red Cross expansion through a generous gift and talked about why he donates lifesaving blood.

“I have battled depression all my life and have developed a philosophy about how to live life in a way that provides me with meaning and happiness,” Vaughn said. “Giving blood is a compassionate act that helps the giver as well as the receiver and it feels better the more you do it. It reduces suffering and even saves lives, and that feels really good.”

Wren Garverick of Bozeman highlighted the profound impact blood donation has had on her family.  Wren’s daughter Bertie needed three blood transfusions in her first few hours of life and is now a happy, healthy toddler.

“It’s not just my life that has been changed by having our daughter with us, it’s that whole network of people who love me and were so terrified at that time that she wasn’t going to make it,” Wren said. “Had we not had blood to give Bertie, it’s unthinkable the impact it would have had on this huge web of people.”

MORE MONTANA EXPANSION

The Bozeman upgrade is part of a larger Red Cross biomed expansion effort across Montana.

The Red Cross Donor Center and laboratory in Great Falls is also undergoing a major renovation.

To learn more about this expansion campaign and how to get involved, visit redcross.org/bloodsaveslivesMT.

IDAHO CENTERS COMING

Over the next 18 months, Red Cross is also adding new blood donations centers in Nampa and Twin Falls. The new Nampa center will have 17 donors beds, including six for platelet collection. The Twin Falls facility will have four donor beds.

Learn more about this Idaho expansion here redcross.org/bloodsaveslivesID.