FORT BRAGG, N.C. - After 10 years in a 'temporary space', the Fort Bragg Blood Donor Center will move to a 12,000 square foot facility to be completed June 2010 at a cost of $5,000,000. Fort Bragg leadership, donors and guests gathered for an unveiling of an architectural drawing of the new center Aug. 18 at the construction site near the corner of Souter and Woodruff streets.

"It is long overdue to get a facility that is designed specifically for blood donor operations," said Capt. Aleksey Casco, Fort Bragg Blood Donor Center chief.

The 41 personnel staff is currently working in an 8,000 square foot building but that hasn't stopped the center from being one of the top donor sites within the Armed Services Blood Program.

Col. Nadja West, Womack Army Medical Center, praised the staff during the ceremony. "If blood is needed, it's there - plain and simple. And it's always there as the result of the time, energy and effort of those who staff the center."

The new facility is modeled after the Fort Benning, Ga., center. "We will have more beds, more room for more donors," said Casco.

The building's floor plan and workflow is designed specifically for the many different processes in collecting, separating and storing blood products. "It will allow us to do our mission more effectively and collect blood products that will benefit Fort Bragg, other regional hospitals and the war effort. It will increase on-post blood collections - that's our target. Right now, 70 percent of our collections are from off-site facilities," said Casco.

The location also aims to draw more donors. "We couldn't ask for a better location. We're right next to the (North) PX and this allows us a lot of visibility. Everybody will know where we are," said Casco.

When the building is completed, the center, through the help of volunteers and staff, will be able to save more lives of military personnel, Family members and others within the military Family.

For more information about the Fort Bragg Blood Donor Center, call 396-9925 or 396-9895.