The Blood Center launched a regional donor awareness campaign with the theme, “Am I Your Type?” to raise greater understanding and recognition for The Blood Center and the critical need for life-saving and philanthropic donors.

The Blood Center, a nonprofit organization led by a volunteer Board of Trustees, is the primary supplier of blood and blood components to more than 30 hospitals and outpatient transfusion facilities throughout Southeast Louisiana and Southern Mississippi.

The Blood Center operates 14 donor centers in the Gulf South.

The locations are listed at thebloodcenter.org/About/Locations.aspx.

There is a St. John the Baptist Parish location at 123 Belle Terre Blvd. in LaPlace. The other nearest locations are in Raceland, Thibodaux and Metairie.

Every type is the right type, and while 60 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood, less than 5 percent does it. To maintain a healthy and stable community blood supply, The Blood Center must collect between 300 to 350 pints of blood every day.

Fast facts:

• Just one pint of blood can help save up to three lives.

• Donating blood is safe, simple, and easy.

• The donation process takes less than an hour.

• Someone needs blood every three seconds.

Blood is traditionally in short supply during the holidays, yet the demand for blood and blood components is constant.

For more information on blood donation, call 800-86-BLOOD or visit TheBloodCenter.org.

Find The Blood Center on social media at @TheBloodCenter. #ItTakesAllTypes