The City of Tehachapi, Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Park District and Houchin Community Blood Bank would like to say thank you to everyone who came out to the Tehachapi blood drive on Thursday, February 18.

Fifty-four people donated blood during this drive, doubling the goal and making it the most successful event we have hosted yet. According to a Houchin Community Blood Bank representative, this drive received more donations than either of the Houchin Bakersfield locations on that day.

The need for blood in Kern County continues and we hope all of Kern County will consider donating blood on a regular basis at a blood drive near them.

Information on becoming a blood, platelet and plasma donor can be found on their website, http://www.HCBB.com. Blood donations save lives; people need blood following severe accidents, surgery, cancer and severe anemia. One unit of blood can help save up to three lives.

In 2020 the City of Tehachapi, TVRPD and HCBB collaborated on 17 blood drives, receiving 594 units of donated blood that stayed in Kern County. The first blood drive of 2021 was cancelled in January due to snow and the freeway closure. The March date has not been set for the next Tehachapi drive.

"Tehachapi is a very giving community; the turnout was fantastic and it was very cold. Just a big thank you to all who came out and donated, I am very proud of our community," said Key Budge, event coordinator, City of Tehachapi.