Lakewood Driver License Office hosting blood drive May 13

If You Go

WHO: Those interested in donating blood

WHAT: Driver Testing and Education Blood Drive WHEN: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday May 13

WHERE: Entrance B, Conference Room 110, 1881 Pierce St. Lakewood, CO 80214

COST: Free

INFO: To register, contact Vitalant at 303-363-2300 or visit www.donors.bonfils.org and use site code A324. Donors can register online until May 12 and should bring a photo ID bearing their legal name May 13. Walk-ins are welcome, too. For more information, email dlcommunications@state.co.us.

DENVER, Tuesday, May 7, 2019 -- As people get ready for summer fun, the Lakewood Driver License Office is gearing up for its next blood drive, which is open to the public.

The event, which is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, May 13, is one of four blood drives hosted annually by the Driver Testing and Education Section at 1881 Pierce St. in Lakewood.

The upcoming blood drive has been opened to the public in an effort to help area blood banks as much as possible.

"We don't generally open the blood drives to the public," said Driver Testing and Education Manager Carol Olds. "But we opened the last blood drive (in February) to the public and were pleased with the turnout, so we wanted to continue that and help as many people as possible."

The February blood drive raised enough donations to help 36 people, and Olds hopes this time the DMV team with the public's support will be able to help even more.

Some might be surprised to discover the Lakewood Driver License Office hosting such an event, especially since it is normally associated with driver licenses, identification cards and vehicle registrations, but for Driver License Director Brent Spahn the blood drive shows DMV civil servants' commitment to outstanding service.

DMV team members donate off the clock by using their lunch or break times, or vacation time to help others.

Olds said she views the blood drive as a continuation of one of the DMV's core tenets -- to instill public confidence through professional and responsive employees.

"I feel the blood drives give employees some satisfaction that they get a chance to make a difference and give back to their communities," Olds said. "Employees volunteer their time and donate when they can, it's making positive choices."

To register to donate blood Monday May 13, contact Vitalant, the nonprofit organization handling the donations, at 303-363-2300 or visit www.donors.bonfils.org and use site code A324. Donors can register online until May 12 and should bring a photo ID bearing their legal name May 13. Walk-ins are also welcome. For more information, email dlcommunications@state.co.us.

The Lakewood Driver License Office has helped save lives by hosting blood drives for more than a decade. In addition to blood drives, the DMV, through its partnership with the Donor Alliance, helped save 303 lives in 2018 by registering organ donors when Coloradans register or renew their driver licenses or identification cards.

The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles offers 35 online services at mydmv.colorado.gov. Renew your driver license, renew your motor vehicle registration, get a driving record and more!