BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — On Tuesday, Houchin Community Blood bank announced its services will be expanded to Santa Clarita, where, under a new brand it will operate as West Coast Blood Center of Santa Clarita.

“Houchin Community Blood Bank has helped our Kern County community save countless lives through blood donations since we opened our doors in 1951,” said Dr. Brad Bryan, president and CEO. “With our expansion into Santa Clarita, I’m excited to say that our community has grown even larger. We will continue our commitment to service at a local level while leading our organization into a new era of innovation and expansion.”

Although Houchin will be expanding, it plans to continue serving Kern County, providing much-needed services to residents and local hospitals.

Houchin also announced it had launched a new website, to improve the online donor experience.

“This is an exciting time to be a part of Houchin Community Blood Bank and the newly formed West Coast Blood Center of Santa Clarita. Houchin is still the same organization, with the same commitment to supporting our local community. We now have a sister organization just over the Grapevine serving the Santa Clarita Valley and throughout Los Angeles County” said Dr. Bryan. “We will continue to expand in innovative ways into new areas, and always keep our focus of saving lives through blood donations in the communities we serve because when you give, people live.”

To schedule an appointment to donate blood at Houchin Community Blood Bank, platelets or plasma, visit www.hcbb.com.

To plan a blood drive, contact Susan Bowser, Vice President of Business Development, at sbowser@hcbb.com.