RI Blood Center opens first Mass. donor site in Swansea. Posted: Aug 11, 2026 / 05:56 PM EDT Updated: Aug 11, 2026 / 05:56 PM EDT SWANSEA, Mass. (WPRI) - The Rhode Island Blood Center has officially expanded into Massachusetts. The nonprofit organization opened its first Massachusetts donor center on Route 6 in Swansea Tuesday morning. The donor center marks a historic goal for RIBC by providing Massachusetts residents with a new place to give blood. This comes two years after Massachusetts expanded its blood collection laws to allow FDA-registered establishments to operate collection sites across the state, according to RIBC. The organization supplies nearly 20,000 blood products annually to dozens of Massachusetts hospitals, according to RIBC. The new facility will allow RIBC to foster a new network of blood donors within the state that it has long served. "For decades, we've been privileged to care for Massachusetts patients by providing blood to more than 40 hospitals throughout the Commonwealth," RIBC Vice President of Operations Hunter Shaffer said. "Opening our first donor center here creates a meaningful new connection that allows Massachusetts residents to become partners in our life-saving mission." The RIBC declared a blood emergency last month after the state's supply dropped below a two-day inventory. The organization explained that a healthy blood supply typically ranges from five-to-seven days. Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. Interested in becoming a blood donor? Contact the Rhode Island Blood Center: 405 Promenade St. Providence, R.I. 02908 (401) 453-8383 or 1-800-283-8385 [email protected] More resources: | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | Daily roundup.

Rhode Island Blood Center partners with RISPCA for donation drive.