GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - If you donate blood in West Michigan next year, chances are technicians from Michigan Blood will do the collecting.
The American Red Cross, Michigan Blood's main competitor, is ending mobile blood collection programs in west Michigan.
The decision could eliminate over 200 jobs in their Great Lakes Division and make Michigan Blood the only option for donors in west Michigan who want to give.
“It creates opportunities for us to go in and be part of communities we currently aren't part of,” said Michigan Blood president James Wilson. “It feeds into our strategy. Our long-term strategy is to continue and enhance and increase our collections across the state of Michigan.”
The Red Cross will continue to offer disaster relief services and blood collection programs in southeast Michigan.
They tentatively plan to end west Michigan mobile blood collections in November. The organization says they are trying to help over 200 of their union employees find other jobs.
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