SAN ANTONIO -- A brand new bus for the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center is rolling onto the streets.
- New bus will replace old one
- Old bus will be donated to New Braunfels Police Department
- Bus will be unveiled at blood drive on Friday
The center will deploy the new vehicle and retire an existing older one that's been on the road for more than 20 years.
The old bus will be donated to the New Braunfels Police Department crisis negotiating team.
The new one is equipped with fewer windows and a redesigned phlebotomy area to give donors more privacy and a more efficient and comfortable experience. Custom-designed equipment will make the entire donation paperless.
The bus is designed to accommodate two automation machines that will collect double units of red blood cells and plasma.
There are also digital monitors on board that will provide additional educational information and patient stories so donors can see the benefits of their donations.
The new vehicle comes after the Walmart Foundation gave the center a $100,000 donation.
The new vehicle will be unveiled at a blood drive Friday at the Walmart Supercenter in New Braunfels at 1209 South Interstate 35.
The first 20 donors will receive a Walmart gift card.
"Think about if you needed it, if you needed help and people wouldn't get out and help you how would you feel," said platelet donor, Alan Hammar. "So if you can get out and help others."
The center said donations of O positive and O negative blood types are especially in need.