Mural inside pays tributes to blood donors and recipients
South Texas Blood & Tissue is excited to unveil its updated and relocated new donor center on San Antonio’s southside. This new location will help garner donor visibility and highlight the cultural richness of our community. The opening corresponds greatly with National Blood Donor Month and is a perfect opportunity to Commit 4 Compassion, promising to make four blood donations or sponsor four blood drives a year.
Southeast Donor Center Grand Opening
Jan. 14, 2025
10:30-11:30 a.m.
3103 SE Military Drive Suite 105
San Antonio, TX 78224
South Texas Blood & Tissue commissioned local artist Cristina Sosa Noriega to create a mural for the new donor center. Cristina’s mural depicts actual donors and recipients who have come through our doors, including Uvalde shooting survivor Mayah Zamora and her donor hero, 17-year-old Adrianna Garcia.
“She’s [Mayah’s] in there as well as other donors of different backgrounds, just to show anyone can be a donor,” Cristina said. “You can be a woman, a man, you can be old, you can be young, and it’s not hard…It’s a pretty simple thing and it’s totally worth it.”
The Sacred Heart in the center of Cristinas piece is symbolic in Mexican-American culture. The arteries connecting the donors represent not just the spiritual, but physical connection that donation entails.
Cristina said she wanted people to see the vignettes of donors and feel a “sense of joy.”
All healthy, eligible individuals are encouraged to make an appointment to donate blood. Challenges facing the blood supply are often exacerbated as winter weather and seasonal illnesses cause delays.
Donors can schedule a blood donation for upcoming community blood drives by visiting SouthTexasBlood.org or call 210-731-5590.
