BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Houchin Community Blood Bank is celebrating the anniversary of its partnership with the Blood Emergency Readiness Corps.
The blood bank and BERC have been working in partnership for five years, working together to “ensure lifesaving blood is available whenever and wherever disaster strikes,” the organization said.
BERC was established in 2021 with seven blood centers and has grown into a nationwide network of 38 blood centers in nearly every state.
In tandem the organizations respond to emergencies, like mass causality events and natural disasters to provide blood.
Since its inception, BERC has been activated 18 times, providing more than 1,600 units of blood, the organization said.
“Whether responding to hurricanes, severe weather, large-scale accidents, or other emergencies, the program demonstrates the strength of collaboration, preparedness, and community,” Houchin said.
The blood bank said that if a disaster were to ever impact Kern County and blood was needed, Houchin would have 37 partner blood centers across the country ready to respond.
Houchin Community Blood Bank CEO Jonathan Bautista said the corps program is a “perfect example” of what happens when organizations “put patients before themselves.”
“Every day, our team works to ensure local hospitals have the blood they need, but through BERC we are also part of something much larger,” Bautista said. “We stand ready to help communities across our nation, and if our community ever faces a disaster, we know our partners across this great country will stand ready to send blood our way. That is what true partnership looks like, protecting our communities and saving lives together across America.”
