PIERRE, S.D.(KCCR)- LifeServe’s new Blood Donor Center in Pierre is open.

During a ribbon cutting event on Monday, LifeServe President/CEO Stacy Sime said the support from the Pierre and Fort Pierre Communities is what made it happen.

Sime lives in Des Moines, IA, but is originally from the Milbank, SD, area. She said she loves seeing LifeServe grow in South Dakota.

Sime gave special mention to an event that she feels is a huge part of why the Pierre and Fort Pierre communities are so committed to donating blood.

The hours the LifeServe Donor Center in Pierre is open will vary until they are fully staffed. The Donor Center is located at 1908 N. Garfield Avenue (in the Larkspur Landing building). They’ll host an open house Sept. 22 from 4-6pm, featuring giveaways, tours, food and more.

Despite having a brick and mortar location in Pierre, LifeServe will have occasional mobile blood drives at many of the traditional locations in Pierre and Fort Pierre. Mobile blood drives will continue as usual in the surrounding communities.

The Pierre facility is LifeServe’s fourth permanent blood donation center in South Dakota, joining centers in Aberdeen, Mitchell and Yankton. Pierre is the organization’s 15th permanent location in its four-state service area.

For more information about employment opportunities, blood donation or to schedule an appointment to donate, call 1-800-287-4903 or visit lifeservebloodcenter.org.