Regular donors to Blood Bank of Alaska may soon have to travel farther or wait for mobile blood drive collections to give, as the Soldotna and Wasilla donor centers will soon be closing.

"The Soldotna center's last day is Jan. 16, and the Wasilla's branch is Jan. 22," said David Large, director of marketing and public relations for Blood Bank of Alaska.

Blood Bank of Alaska supplies blood and blood products to 25 hospitals and heath care facilities throughout the state including Central Peninsula Hospital and Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. The 10-year-old Soldotna branch accounts for 5 percent of the approximately 30,000 annual donations, and the 14-year-old Wasilla branch accounts for 7 percent.

As to the reason for the closures, Large attributed it to fewer people opting for elective surgeries as a result of the sluggish economy.

"Nationally, there has been a decline in demand for blood in 2009, with in-state demand down 10 percent," he said. "The economy is the major reason for this decline."

Blood Bank of Alaska has been evaluating every aspect of its business model during these hard economic times, according to Large. Through this evaluation it was determined closing the community donor centers in Soldotna and Wasilla could reduce operating expenses in 2010.

"Despite the closing, hospital blood supply and availability will not be affected," Large said.

Blood Bank of Alaska has three other fixed donation centers two in Anchorage and one in Fairbanks, and Large said the staff at the closing centers are being given the option to commute, or relocate to work, at one of these other branches.

To accommodate for the loss of the two blood centers, Large said Blood Bank of Alaska would increase mobile blood drive collections on the Kenai Peninsula and in the Mat-Su region, to make it convenient for donors to regularly give blood.

"It's also important for donors to know that if the economy gets better in the next couple of years, we have plans to reopen a center on the peninsula as well as the Mat-Su Valley, making it more convenient for donors in the community," Large said. "It's just that at this time of economic uncertainty, we need to weather the storm."

Blood Bank of Alaska must continue to register approximately 700 donors per week in order to meet hospital distribution needs.

Donors are encouraged to visit their Web site at www.bloodbankofalaska.org to find information about upcoming blood drives, or to call 907-222-5630 to schedule an appointment.

Joseph Robertia can be reached at joseph.robertia@peninsulaclarion.com.