By Anton Ghosh


The holiday season is traditionally hard on the nation’s blood supply. The American Red Cross typically sees a decrease in blood donations through the end of the year. To help boost blood donations and ensure patients have access to lifesaving blood and platelets, autonomous driving technology company, Waymo, partnered with the Red Cross to host its second annual blood drive from November 4-10 in San Francisco. The company generously offered two free rides to Waymo riders and employees who donated blood or platelets at the Red Cross San Francisco Blood Donation Center located on Market Street.

In total, 70 appointments were made by Waymo riders within that week and beyond. The Red Cross collected nearly 34 units of blood so far with additional appointments to be fulfilled in the weeks ahead. Donors came from all parts of the city and felt inspired to donate as a way to give back to their community and help save lives.

Eszter Kiss donated for the first time since moving to San Francisco. For her, it was the reminder message that Waymo sent that inspired her to give blood again.

“I haven’t gotten the chance to donate blood ever since I lived in San Francisco and it was an excellent reminder when I saw the popup message in the Waymo app.”

Although Eszter was nervous, she said, “The staff was nice at the donation center, which helped a lot.”

Similarly, Lisa Vaessen donated blood for the first time after Waymo reached out to their riders about this opportunity. “I’m a fan of Waymo! I immediately signed up and was again reminded of the benefits of donating blood,” she said. As a first-time donor, she immediately, “felt safe and well informed at the Red Cross Donation Center.”

She also encourages others who may be thinking about donating to try it for the first time. “It doesn’t hurt and you feel great afterward knowing that you have donated the greatest gift of all.”

Brian Kemp liked the convenience of Waymo and the perk of a free ride to the donation center and back home. “I actually appreciated not having to drive after the donation – I was a little tired, and it was nice not to worry about driving,” he said.

The reminder about giving blood “made me feel some responsibility” since he is a universal donor, said Brian.

A universal donor’s O-negative blood can be used in blood transfusions for any blood type.

Other donors also described giving blood as a deeply personal event. Adam Bink said it was his Jewish values of “tikkun olam” or “repair the world” and his grandfather suffering from a rare form of cancer that prompted him to start donating years ago.

For Adam, donating blood allows him a moment to relax and forget about the world.

He says his favorite part of giving blood is that it provides, “A moment to put down my phone (because one arm is tied down anyway!) and breathe.”

Joshua Slayton, another Waymo rider, donates because a blood transfusion saved his grandmother’s life years ago after a routine medical procedure sliced open one of her arteries.

“She was saved by a blood transfusion. It’s been important to me since.”

Not all the donors were riders. Some were Waymo employees who took the time from their day to donate as well.

Bill Burns decided to donate after learning about the Waymo blood drive. “This effort made me think about how it had been a while since my last donation, and the process being easy (and encouraged!) was the boost I needed to participate,” Bill said.

He also encourages others to donate, giving special kudos to the Red Cross Blood Services volunteers and staff who are a “great and friendly team that gets you in and out as quickly as possible.”

The Red Cross is grateful to all the donors who took time out of their schedules to donate, and thanks Waymo for this incredible partnership.