Community Blood Center of the Ozarks opens new Joplin location

The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks celebrated on Monday the grand opening of its new Joplin location at 2318 E. 32nd St., Suite D. The new location gives the center more space to collect a vital, lifesaving resource for the community.
This is the center's fifth location in Joplin over the last 30 years. It previously operated out of a storefront at the Northpark Mall.
The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks is the sole supplier of blood for 45 area hospitals. It averaged 10 to 12 donors a day at its previous location at the mall. Anthony Roberts, executive director of the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks, said staff members are now hoping to double donors at the new location.
'A lot of chambers of commerce like to say, 'Shop local,'' Roberts said. 'We always say, 'Local donors, local patients.' Our mission has always been centered on saving lives through the generosity of local blood donors. This beautiful new facility gives us even more opportunity to fulfill that mission in the Joplin area.'
In its last location, the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks had 1,250 square feet and were basically running out of space, Roberts said. The organization has been looking for a new Joplin location for a couple of years.
Roberts said the center found the perfect space on 32nd Street. It's highly visible with lots of traffic. It's also closer to Freeman Health System and Mercy Joplin Hospital, which presents a better opportunity for hospital employees and patient families to donate.
'If people have family members in the hospital and feel the need to come donate, we're very close, only five to seven minutes away,' Roberts said. 'This is a great opportunity here to donate.'
The center has worked to make the new location donor-friendly, Roberts said. Donors can pull right up to the front door, unlike the mall. The extra space allows the center to expand from four beds to eight beds, and donors have generous space around them as they donate.
Michael Rahn, senior director of building operations, helped design the new Joplin location. As donors walk in the new 3,700 square-foot center, they're greeted by a front desk. Medical history rooms line one wall, donor beds are in the center. There is an open floor plan in the main room. It makes it easy for donors to look around and for staff to see all of their donors at all times.
'It's important to have a welcoming, open space,' Rahn said. 'You don't want your donors to feel like this is a sterile, medical facility. Our donors are caring enough to come in and volunteer to do this on their own. That's an important part of wanting to make them comfortable.'
People can make an appointment online to donate blood at the new Joplin center at cbco.org. It is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday.
Roberts said with the new location, the center is looking to expand into weekend morning hours this fall.

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