75 years of keeping blood on the shelf for the North Coast

This year the Northern California Community Blood Bank marks its 75th anniversary. Since 1951 we've been an independent, community-based nonprofit drawing donors from Humboldt and Del Norte counties and supplying the hospitals here at home.

Today about 50 staff members keep that work going. In a typical year, roughly 10,000 donor visits produce about 7,500 units of red blood cells, plus platelets and plasma. Local patients come first; blood collected beyond local needs is shared with hospitals elsewhere in the country, which helps financially support the operation here.

A career that started with a courier route

Our CEO, Kate Witthaus, grew up around blood banking — her father ran a blood bank in the 1980s and would bring her to the lab during emergencies. She studied science at Cal Poly Humboldt and, straight out of college, took a job here as a courier. She now leads the organization.

She keeps coming back to one story: a former telephone recruiter on our staff had a baby prematurely, and the baby needed transfusions. "When you know exactly who the blood is going to as you're rushing to the hospital with it, it changes the way you think of the day-to-day job," Kate said.

Blood is regulated as a drug

One thing that surprises people is the regulatory complexity. The FDA classifies blood as a drug, so the protocols that govern pharmaceuticals govern blood products too — from collection through testing, labeling, and release. Our licenses and accreditations are published for anyone who wants to see them.

The trend that worries us most

Over the past decade, the number of blood donors under 30 has dropped 39% nationwide. People tend to start donating young and keep going; it's much less common to begin later in life. There's no upper age limit — but it's concerning when there aren't younger donors coming up behind the people in their 50s and 60s who give the most today.

At the same time, eligibility has opened up. Travel to areas affected by malaria used to mean a one-year deferral and now means three months; most new tattoos no longer require a wait at all; and since 2023, gay men are eligible to donate under the same individual risk assessment everyone else answers. If you were turned away years ago, it's worth checking the current eligibility rules — and our equal screening for all page explains how the questions work now.

What helps most

We don't fundraise continuously; we run capital campaigns and write grants for major purchases like a new freezer or bloodmobile. Still, as Kate puts it, "we absolutely rely on the goodwill and support of the community." Volunteers watch over donors after they give, drive blood products, and staff the canteen.

The real linchpin is local businesses and organizations that host blood drives on site and encourage their people to give. That's Kate's top ask.

Ready to help mark 75 years? Host a blood drive, volunteer, or make an appointment to donate at 2524 Harrison Ave. in Eureka. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged and guarantee your preferred time. Questions? Call (707) 443-8004.

Portions of this story draw on "Good Work | Northern California Community Blood Bank celebrates 75 years" by Michael Kraft, published in the Times-Standard on July 13, 2026.