A Tradition of Caring for Our Community

On Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1949, the Lower West Coast Blood Bank was founded, planting the seeds of a humanitarian idea that would flourish over generations. For over 75 years, tens of thousands of dedicated volunteers, just like you, have played a vital role in providing the essential, life-saving gift of blood to our local hometown healthcare facilities and patients.

Thank you for your continued support of our lifesaving mission.

Now known as SunCoast Blood Centers, we will continue our mission of delivering the precious and lifesaving gift of blood products directly to local healthcare facilities and patients, while offering donors a seamless experience thanks to our state-of-the-art collection and testing instruments.

What began with 551 units of blood collected in 1949, we now hold more than 1,000 blood drives and achieve more than 40,000 units of blood annually. Few, if any, blood banks in Southwest Florida protect and save as many local lives as SunCoast Blood Centers does.

Our Vision

Be recognized as an industry leader and the “go to” partner for blood-related healthcare services, catering to individuals, families, the U.S. military, and others across Southwest Florida.

Our Values

• Operate with INTEGRITY. 
• COMMIT to each other and the community. 
• EXCEED the expectations of those we serve. 
• Embrace INNOVATION.

Who We Serve

YOU! Our mission is to serve YOU — the individuals, families, U.S. military servicemen and women, and others who comprise our beautiful community. We achieve this by ensuring a safe and adequate supply of blood products, including pathogen-reduced platelets, as well as providing services for the local healthcare facilities that our community relies on every day to save lives.