HOUSTON (THE K SPOT NEWS)—Gulf Coast Blood recently hosted its annual ‘Holiday Hugs’ volunteer event to spread much-needed holiday cheer to local hospital patients that depend on blood donations. The event consists of volunteers and donors writing positive notes and attaching it to more than 1,000 teddy bears to be delivered to patients.

The program has been going on for around 20 years. Assistant Manager of Customer Experience and Volunteers for Gulf Coast Blood, Frankie Duenes said that she’s grateful for blood donors that help keep blood on the shelves for those in need.

“We need to collect about 1,000 units of blood every single day. We’re thankful to our volunteers who are so committed to spreading holiday cheer,” Duenes said. “They could be doing other things, but they want to give back to our community, so thank you to our donors.”

Patrick and Louise Bieschke have been volunteering and donating for Gulf Coast Blood since 2018. After their son became ill, they said it was important to come as a family and to bring their daughter, Christina along to help make a difference. “Our son was diagnosed with a form of cancer when he was 16 and he needed a bone marrow transplant. While he was undergoing treatment, he needed a lot of platelets,” Patrick Bieschke said.

According to Gulf Coast Blood, Platelets are always needed especially around the holidays. A huge part of that reason is because it has the shortest shelf life. Over the holidays, the center is offering a promotion to encourage platelet donations

After volunteering for many years as a group of 3, Patrick and Louise’s daughter, Christina now brings her 15-year-old son, Quinn, to share the same experience.

“It was a great experience and then as I got older, I understood the importance of volunteering and giving back. And then, as a parent, Quinn’s sister needed to be hospitalized, and we were the recipients of these teddy bears that we’re preparing today. It feels really incredible to be on the other side of that and to loop in my own family and just keep the circle going.”

Christina Lyster- Volunteer & parent

To learn more about the different types of blood donations needed, donor eligibility and how the process works, visit giveblood.org for details.