Gulf Coast Blood will be providing BEAR (BE A Resource) bins inside all our Donor Centers for donors to participate in BEAR (Be A Resource) BEARing Gifts program. Donors are invited to drop off a brand-new holiday gift for a child under the care of CPS. Please bring new toys appropriate for children from newborn to 17 years old. In addition, you can also purchase items from BEAR (BE A Resource) Amazon Wishlist or donate monetarily. 

When you participate in Gulf Coast Blood’s Holiday Hugs, you could be giving two gifts in one — the lifesaving gift of your blood donation and the uplifting gift of a heartfelt holiday message. Patients across 170 hospitals in our 26-county region benefit directly from your generosity. When you donate blood, please take a moment to write a message of holiday cheer on one of our notecards. 

Gulf Coast Blood is the sole blood provider for Houston and surrounding communities, serving 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We are one of the largest community blood centers in the nation, proudly serving 26 counties across the Texas Gulf Coast, Brazos Valley, and East Texas, with more than 170 hospitals and healthcare partners. Our facilities include Gulf Coast Blood East Texas and Gulf Coast Blood Brazos Valley. 

Holiday Hugs is one of Gulf Coast Blood’s cherished annual traditions. By gifting teddy bears to patients spending their holidays in the hospital, we help spread comfort and joy throughout our community. Our donors love writing heartfelt holiday messages to accompany these bears and look forward to this tradition every year. This year, we’re proud to partner with BEAR (BE A Resource) again — giving donors the chance to share Holiday Hugs and help fulfill the holiday wishes of over 23,000 at-risk children. 

Gulf Coast Blood’s annual tradition is Holiday Hugs. By gifting teddy bears to patients who are spending their holidays in hospitals, we are spreading joy in our community. Our donors love writing a holiday message to accompany the bear and look forward to this tradition every year. This year, we are partnering with BEAR Houston again. Donors will be able to write a Holiday Hugs message and fulfill holiday wishes of over 23,000 at-risk children.