In 1950, blood was only available to patients in Humboldt and Del Norte counties after many steps were taken. Once donors with the correct blood group and type were found, their blood had to be cross matched with the patient's blood. During surgery, donors waited by a telephone in the case they were needed since the two counties had no way of storing blood that was not used.

Local physicians decided that this was not an effective way to provide needed blood for surgery. Consequently, Shiras Jarvis, M.D., Phillip Dohn, M.D., Stanwood Schmidt, M.D., and George Watson, M.D. decided to form a community blood bank. They approached the Eureka Elks Lodge, and under the leadership of Carl Hansen, the Elks raised the money to start the "Humboldt Del Norte Blood Bank". The blood bank was incorporated in 1951 and in 2001 we celebrated our 50th Anniversary.

The original blood bank was in the Lloyd building which is still located on Fifth Street. In the beginning, physicians took turns drawing blood, but soon after there was permanent staff hired for those tasks. According to the minutes of original Board meetings, Aubrey White was the first "Head Technician" and paid employee of the blood bank.

Over the years the blood bank has needed additional space. The Blood Bank traded a parcel of land they owned on Second Street, for the current property on Harrison Avenue, The Blood Bank was constructed on the land and that was our home for 35 years. The current facility was constructed in 1994.

For the past 60+ years, there has been a diverse group of individuals (too many to name) that have helped the blood bank thrive. Hundreds of men and women have served as members of the Board of Directors. For many years the blood bank was part of the Humboldt/ Del Norte Medical Society and benefited from the group's leadership.

Hundreds of thousands of selfless donors have willingly and silently come through our doors and to our blood mobiles to give "The Gift Of Life" for no other reason, but to do the right thing for someone in need.

In the first year of business, the blood bank drew just a couple of hundred units. In 2008, the blood bank drew over 16,000 units of blood. One third was collected at our site on Harrison Ave and the other two-thirds were collected on our blood mobiles throughout the two counties. The blood bank has grown over the past 61 years and we are looking to grow with your help.