HOLLAND, Mich., Jan. 20, 2026 — In recognition of National Blood Donor Month throughout January, Holland Hospital is celebrating the extraordinary generosity of our community members who donated blood in 2025. As the nation faces an ongoing decline in donations, the hospital is taking a moment to highlight the significant impact local donors have for their community.
Blood donation is a critical pillar of health care, with one in seven people entering a hospital needing blood, according to blooddonormonth.org, a collaboration between America’s Blood Centers, the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB), and the American Red Cross.
This past year, through the dedication of our neighbors and staff, Holland Hospital’s blood drives, in partnership with Versiti, achieved the following:
- 219 total pints of blood were collected.
- These donations equate to an estimated 531 local lives saved.
- These statistics tell a story of dedication from community members across the lakeshore.
In addition, in 2025 the Red Cross partnered with Holland Hospital at Evergreen Commons Community Center to host six blood drives, resulting in 204 successful donations, further demonstrating the community’s commitment to supporting lifesaving care.
“Every pint of blood donated can save numerous lives, and it's important to understand just how far that gift goes,” said Nicholas Decker, MBA, MLS(ASCP), director of laboratory services at Holland Hospital. “While we donate whole blood, we create individual lifesaving products from each component. Red cells are used to combat anemia, plasma to support burn victims and liver patients, and platelets to help cancer patients and those recovering from cardiac surgery.”
Decker emphasized that the need extends beyond emergency rooms into long-term chronic care. “Outside of trauma, many chronic diseases such as cancer and renal disease require blood products for treatment. In some cases, patients with specific genetic disorders receive therapeutic transfusions indefinitely for their entire lives. To see our community provide over 200 pints is a testament to the compassion of local residents; these donors are the silent lifelines for our neighbors.”
National Blood Donor Month was first established in 1970 to increase blood and platelet donations during the winter. To maintain a stable supply for our local patients, Holland Hospital encourages new and returning donors to schedule an appointment at our upcoming blood drive.
Upcoming Blood Drive Information:
- Date: Jan. 30, 2026
- Location: Holland Hospital Conference Rooms
602 Michigan Ave
Holland, MI 49423 - Registration: hollandhospital.org/events/blood-drive
Appointments preferred, walk-ins welcome, as schedule allows.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Jessica Meldrum, MS, APR
jmeldrum@hollandhospital.org
Jan. 20, 2026