BLOOD DONATIONS

The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center says donations are especially needed now because of a four-day hiatus forced by Hurricane Ike. The center is asking that residents give blood as more neighborhood donor centers and mobile blood drives resume collections. Special extended hours will be observed at eight Nnighborhood donor centers. A small number of mobile blood drives also will be open to the public today.

Patients in the Texas Gulf Coast region need more than 900 blood donations every day, a blood center spokesperson said.All Commit for Life donors who give blood today through Tuesday will receive 300 bonus points for the Commit for Life store, which can be viewed at the Web site www.giveblood.org.

The following donor centers will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today:

Bill T. Teague (headquarters) - 1400 La Concha (Reliant Stadium area).
Champions - 6935 FM 1960 West, Suite A (at Cutten Road).
Cy-Fair - 11811 FM 1960 West, Suite 120.
Gulfgate - 546 Gulfgate Center (behind Chuck E. Cheese).
Humble/Kingwood - 9616 FM 1960 Bypass (Commons at Deerbrook, behind Olive Garden).
Katy - 1575 S. Grand Parkway, Suite 600 (at Highland Knolls).
Sugar Land - 4949 Sweetwater Blvd. (next to Kroger).
Westchase - 10001 Westheimer, Suite 2117 (Carillon Shopping Center, behind La Madeleine).

These mobile blood drives will be open to the public:

St. Joseph Medical Center (7 a.m. to 4 p.m.) - 1919 La Branch.
Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. (10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) - 10205 Westheimer, Suite 300.
VA Medical Center (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) - 2002 Holcombe.
San Jacinto Methodist Hospital (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) - 4401 Garth Road, Baytown.
Wharton County Jr. College (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) - 911 Boling Highway, Wharton.