Ashton Gerard/MDN United Blood Services will be remodeling its building during the next year and changing its name to Vitalant.

United Blood Services has a 75-year history as being North Dakota’s sole blood provider to nearly 70 hospitals in the tri-state area. Now, they are rebranding to be unified with 127 nationwide donation centers and 30,000 mobile blood drives as Vitalant.

“The transition to Vitalant is not going to change the mission that we bring to the communities here,” Matthew Walstad, a Vitalant donor recruitment supervisor out of Fargo, said. “Our mission is still to directly facilitate blood collection for (the Minot) area.”

The 10 donation center brands that are coming together collectively under the name Vitalant are: Blood Centers of the Pacific, BloodSource, Bonfils Blood Center, Central Blood Bank, Community Blood Services, Inland Northwest Blood Center, Lifeblood, LifeShare, LifeSource and United Blood Services, in addition to the umbrella organization Blood Systems including its research institute and specialty laboratory.

United Blood Services and these other donation center brands all fell under Blood Systems. The name change to Vitalant is a push to unify all Blood Systems donation centers and be more easily identified and recognizable across the United States.

The name change does not affect how donors can donate. Walstad explained that typing in United Blood Services automatically redirects to Vitalant.

“We still have the same location (1919 N. Broadway), we will still be doing the same blood drives, the only difference is the name,” Walstad said.

With the new hospital being built in south Minot, Vitalant will not be relocating as their donation center in Minot serves all of western North Dakota.

“We are completely remodeling the building,” Walstad said. “Over the next year, it will be completely remodeled and rebranded with Vitalant colors and new signs. So, same location but it’ll be a whole new face.

Along with the remodel will come a renovation that will make the Minot location even more donor friendly.

“Vitalant was chosen because it’s something that’s vital and full of life. It reflects who our donors are, our patients, our customers and our employees,” Walstad said. “The real goal is to bring life to Minot, to bring life to the Dakotas.”

There is a constant need for blood. In fact, nearly 5,000 blood donations are needed each day to meet the needs of people throughout the country. At least 250 donations are needed each day to meet the needs of people throughout North Dakota, South Dakota and western Minnesota according to a Vitalant press release.