Laura Trivett is looking forward to her first time donating blood.

It’s something she never thought she would be able to do. Trivett was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 and was under the misconception that she was not a donor candidate.

But when a new Canadian Blood Services donor centre began taking shape in the plaza where she works, she chatted with the staff and quickly learned that, after being cancer-free for six years, she was actually eligible to donate.

She also discovered she was one of the few people at work who wasn’t already a registered donor.

“I got really excited after I found out all my staff were donators as well,” said Trivett, who owns a store called Kitchen Therapy.

“It was really exciting that I would be able to donate for the first time.”

The new donor centre is the first of its kind in South Surrey. Previously, the only local options were mobile blood donation clinics, which would temporarily set up at community spaces.

“Now with this permanent location, we’ve been able to pull out of those [mobile clinics] and offer a place that’s six days a week for people down here,” said Canadian Blood Services community development manager Craig Nielsen.

“I think the convenience, plus the fact that we are at a great location here at Grandview Corners, people find themselves here for other reasons. So why not book an hour out of your day to donate?”

The new centre features eight beds: three for whole blood donations and five for plasma.

“It’s giving great options for people to come in and say, ‘If I’m ineligible to donate blood, I can donate plasma,’ which then turns into plasma protein products that help over 80 diseases and conditions out there,” Nielsen said.

“Do unto other as you want done to yourself,” Trivett said.

“I do think it’s really important, and for the community, I see faces all day long, and when you’re going about in your community, I like that idea that my donation might help them one day, as much as their donation might help me one day.”

The centre will start welcoming donors Aug. 4.

“Go get out there, go get checked, and donate!” Trivett said.