The Red Cross has consolidated its services into an already familiar space.

The building at 7202 W. Deschutes Ave. in Kennewick was previously focused on the Red Cross’ humanitarian services, but after nine months of renovation work, it’s ready to host fixed blood donation services as well, replacing the former Richland donation center, which has since closed.

The Kennewick building has housed the Red Cross since it was built, which was in the 1990s, according to property records. The building is more than 5,000 square feet.

It was about a $1.2 million investment.

The Red Cross has consolidated its humanitarian and blood donation services into its building at 7202 W. Deschutes Ave., Kennewick, after $1.2 million in renovations.

| Photo by Rachel Visick

On the humanitarian side, the Red Cross helps after disasters and home fires, getting blankets, toiletries, water and financial assistance to those in need when called in by individuals or the fire department. The Kennewick building is stocked with supplies for such disasters, and caseworkers follow up with those who have been impacted over the course of a few weeks, said Ron Melton, disaster action team coordinator for Central and Southeastern Washington. 

While there are some staff, the Red Cross’ humanitarian workforce is 90% volunteers, he said. The Kennewick building has 24 total staff across the biomedical and humanitarian departments.

At the blood donation center, donors can check in with a blood ambassador, often a volunteer. The revamped building features private rooms to check donors’ medical history and eligibility to give blood. 

While the number of donor beds, 11, is the same as the Richland center’s, the new donation center is an improvement in terms of the donor experience, with health history rooms, recovery areas and room to expand capacity in the future.

On the left side of the blood donation center, a few chairs are set aside for whole blood donations, while the right side of the room is lined with more plush chairs facing TVs. Those are for platelet donations, Melton said, because that type of donation takes two to three hours to complete. 

The Red Cross previously handled blood donations at its Richland center at 447 Wellsian Way in Richland, which is now closed. That location was leased, so in addition to eliminating the confusion of multiple Red Cross buildings, consolidating into Kennewick’s building – owned outright – was a way to save money, said Michele Roth, executive director serving Central and Southeastern Washington. 

The Red Cross also runs mobile blood drives throughout the region. 

Michele Roth, the Red Cross’ executive director serving Central and Southeastern Washington, highlighted the organization’s critical work at a ribbon cutting for the remodeled Kennewick building.

| Photo by Rachel Visick

“What we do is critical,” Roth said. “We’re really facing a steep challenge around the country right now for blood products.”

When there’s a disaster in an area, she pointed out, blood can’t be collected there – it’s up to those in other parts of the country to donate so the products can get to where they’re needed most.

Blood collected by the Red Cross is used to treat victims of accidents, cancer patients, those with planned surgeries, organ transplants and more.

Some products, like platelets, are in constant demand. They need to be transfused within five days of collection, said Joe Frieboes, fixed site collections director, at a grand opening event for the Kennewick Red Cross building.

Moving fixed blood donations into the Kennewick building is a part of the Red Cross’ efforts to increase the number of donor centers across the country. The organization is trying to add 100 sites by 2030, he said. 

“We’re incredibly excited to move into this new space and provide a more pleasant donor environment, and hopefully have people come out and donate more routinely to support these individuals and families. Hopefully it will inspire new donors to come out, too,” Frieboes said.