Published: June 18, 2007 10:45 am      

OBI to show off new digs in Thursday open house

ADA — “We could not have done it without the community,” East Central Oklahoma Blood Institute Manager Susan Scroggins said about the new ECOBI facility located at 1930 Stonecipher Boulevard.

ECOBI will dedicate its new facility with a grand openng celebration Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the new Ada blood center.

“The community helped build it, so it is theirs too,” Scroggins said. “They need to come and see what they built.”

During the dedication, Judy Goforth Parker, Ph.D, R.N., ECOBI board president, will explain how the building of the blood center became a reality and its significance in reagard to ensuring a safe community blood supply.

John Armitage, M.D., OBI president and CEO, will address the roles donors play in saving lives. Additional program speakers include architect Don Childers, of Childers-Childers & Associates and Scroggins.

Scroggins said the 8,500 square-foot facility is much larger than the previous center located on North Mississippi.

“It has a lot more space for donors and staff,” she said.

more donor beds, more screening booths. People can just get in and out a lot faster now.”

Scroggins also encourages members of the community to come out to tour the facility because of its new location. “It is in a beautiful location. Out here in the country, it is just a very pretty setting,” she said.

She also mentioned a new large community room for members of the community to use for meetings, etc.

The ribbon cutting ceremony will be facilitated by ambassadors of the Ada Chamber of Commerce. Mark “Hollywood” Hollingsworth and the East Central Univeristy jazz band will provide entertainment. Additional fun for visitors includes tours, door prizes and treats provided by caterer Tina Stewart.

“We will have food, fun and tours, so I just hope everyone comes out,” Scroggins said.

ECOBI hours of operation are weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. The telephone number, (580) 436-0384, remains the same.

“We’ve been waiting for the new facility for 20 years and it is impressive. It will be so nice for the community to have a fantastic place to come and donate, and we could not have done it without them,” Scroggins said. “They are the ones that made it happen, and we really thank them for that.”