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Lakewood Driver License Office hosting blood drive to help ease shortage

 

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 Feb. 11
WHERE:Entrance B, Conference Room 110, 1881 Pierce St. Lakewood, CO 80214
COST:Free
INFO:To register, call Vitalant at 303-363-2300 or visit www.donors.bonfils.org and use site code A324. Donors can register online until Feb. 10 and should bring a photo ID bearing their legal name Feb. 11. For more information, email dlcommunications@state.co.us.

DENVER, Thursday, February 7, 2019 -- When people need help, the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles doesn't run idle -- it shifts into gear.

This was the case when Driver Testing and Education Manager Carol Olds received the notification that blood banks are critically low.

Olds, who's not one to let an opportunity to help slip by, took action and began coordinating the Driver Testing and Education Blood Drive, one of four yearly drives that happen at the Lakewood Driver License Office, 1881 Pierce St.

The upcoming blood drive, which is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 11, has been opened to the public in an effort to help replenish blood banks.

"We don't generally open the blood drives to the public," Olds said. "But there are some regular donors who are now retired from the DMV that come back to donate, regular donors who have had their section moved to a different location, donors from first responders and law enforcement agencies, and friends of DMV employees."

The move to make the blood drive more accessible is an effort to help save lives, Olds said.

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 Feb. 11, 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 Feb. 10 and should bring a photo ID bearing their legal name Feb. 11. 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. Not counting its 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.