Since 1969, January has been recognized as National Blood Donor Month, both as a thank you to the countless volunteers who donate blood, and as a call to action during one of the most challenging times of the year for blood collections.
National Blood Donor Month also provides a natural opportunity to reengage with congressional offices at the start of the year, and to introduce yourself to offices you may not have worked with before. Members of Congress can participate in a variety of ways, including delivering floor speeches, posting on social media, hosting local blood drives, or touring a blood center.
You can also share blooddonormonth.org, which offers ready-to-use social media graphics and helpful information to make participation simple. Remember to also include information specific to your blood center and community to show the need for blood and the impact of blood donations.
America’s Blood Centers (ABC) and many member blood centers have already begun outreach to Members of Congress to highlight the importance of National Blood Donor Month. This effort is already showing results. ABC staff have connected with several offices that plan to give floor speeches as scheduling allows, and others have committed to posting on social media.
It’s important to remember that advocacy is a marathon, not a sprint. Engaging during these natural touchpoints throughout the year helps build lasting relationships. Even if lawmakers do not take specific action in January, the conversations that begin now can lay the groundwork for future support.
As always, ABC staff are here to help. If you have any questions, including if you need contact information for your congressional office, please reach out to our Government Affairs Manager, Lorenzo Rodriguez, at lrodriguez@americasblood.org.