Donations save lives: World Blood Donor Day raises awareness
CAROLYN BOSTICK | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 weeks, 5 days AGO
Carolyn Bostick has worked for the Coeur d’Alene Press since June 2023. She covers Shoshone County and Coeur d'Alene. Carolyn previously worked in Utica, New York at the Observer-Dispatch for almost seven years before briefly working at The Inquirer and Mirror in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Since she moved to the Pacific Northwest from upstate New York in 2021, she's performed with the Spokane Shakespeare Society for three summers. | June 14, 2026 1:00 AM
Amanda Strom walked into the Vitalant Blood Donation Center on Friday morning, ready to do her part to help others.
The Coeur d’Alene resident has donated on and off for over 10 years and had spent the morning walking four miles with her dog, Hoban and getting a makeover from her daughters.
“I recently started back up because my sister-in-law needed blood transfusions after being diagnosed with cancer,” Stom said. “She needed emergency blood, so I wanted to help someone like that. It feels good to give to someone else.”
World Blood Donor Day is June 14, and Vitalant is celebrating those like Strom who help ensure blood is available for every patient who needs it.
Vitalant donors who use the code JUNEGIFT-2026-V when scheduling an appointment in June will get a $15 gift card.
According to Vitalant, someone in the United States needs a transfusion every two seconds. During the summer, blood supplies can often dip in the absence of school blood drives.
“I used to donate at the Kroc Center when I taught Zumba there,” Strom said.
After an injury, she now donates at the nonprofit’s Coeur d’Alene office when she can.
“My daughters are 18 and 16, and they both have their driver’s licenses, so I’m free to do anything,” Strom said.
No matter the reason for giving blood, Strom said she is always encouraged by the community’s swift actions to help others.
That also applies to donating blood to nonprofits like Vitalant.
“If there’s a crisis or a family tragedy, it definitely takes off that burden, that stress to keep it in supply. It can save a life,” Strom said.
Upcoming Blood Drives:
Summit Northwest Ministries: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, at 1486 W Seltice Way, Post Falls.
Northern Idaho Advanced Care Hospital: 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, at 600 N Cecil Road, Post Falls.
Empire Airlines: 1:30 to 3:45 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, at 1559 N. Atlas Road, Hayden.
Bonner General Health: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, June 19, at 520 N 3rd Ave., Sandpoint.
Wallace United Church of Christ: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24, at 408 Cedar Street.
Post Falls: 1:15 to 4 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at 408 N Spokane Street.
Post Falls Stake: 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, June 26, at 1670 McGuire Road, Post Falls.
Battle of the Badges Silver Valley: noon to 3:30 p.m., Friday, June 26, at 58738 Silver Valley Road, Osburn.
Sandpoint: 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at 624 Larch Street.
Bonners Ferry: 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 30, at 6568 Alderson Lane.
For more information, go to donors.vitalant.org or call 877-258-4825.
A painted message on the ceiling of the Coeur d'Alene office reads, "Thank you for your gift."ARTICLES BY CAROLYN BOSTICK
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