OPERATION REPLENISH: A Mission to Save Lives
Join us in honoring our Founder, Nicole Joy Ledina’s legacy by giving life through blood donation.
Together, we give life.
Click the “4 Easy Steps” button to Join the Mission
The Heart of OPERATION REPLENISH: Nicole’s Journey
Nicole Joy Ledina endured a courageous battle but passed away from a rare autoimmune condition before she could fulfill her heartfelt wish:
Nicole Joy Ledina - Our Founder, said to her Dad shortly before her passing
“I want to replenish all the blood they used on me and more… so others will have a chance at life.”
OPERATION REPLENISH is our collective mission to carry Nicole’s legacy forward — joining together to replenish the blood supply, save lives, and bring hope to those in need.
What is OPERATION REPLENISH?
In Partnership with:
OPERATION REPLENISH is a lifesaving blood donation and fundraising program, launched in partnership with the San Diego Blood Bank/Southern California Blood Bank locally and the Red Cross SleevesUp program elsewhere. This initiative honors Nicole’s legacy by mobilizing our community in a mission to save lives.
Through our Virtual Blood Drive, ongoing donor registrations, and a new team-based RSVP campaign, we’re working to replenish the blood supply so more lives can be saved.
Partnership with trusted local/national blood banks
Ongoing blood donor registration beyond the event
Team campaigns to amplify support and create friendly competition
Strengthening community health and hope
Ways You Can Support the Mission:
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Complete the 4 easy steps below in the “Join the Mission” section. Click the “4 Easy Steps” Button below.
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Help us expand our reach and impact. Organize your friends, family, or colleagues into teams to compete for the most blood donors registered and funds raised. Friendly competition will help us spread the word far and wide!
Click this link to be directed to our OPERATION REPLENISH campaign page, powered by GiveButter to Form or Join a Team:
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If you’re unable to donate blood or would like to further support the Mission, please consider a monetary donation. Your generous gift will help fuel program growth and community outreach.
Click this link to be directed to our OPERATION REPLENISH campaign page, powered by GiveButter to make a monetary donation:
We are a registered 501 c 3 Public Charity.
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Help us raise awareness by sharing this Mission with your network.
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Post and Share about your participation in and support for OPERATION REPLENISH and Empathy is the Remedy. Tag us and give us a Shout Out on your favorite Social Media platforms. Please copy and use the following hashtags:
#OperationReplenish #MissionToSaveLives #TogetherWeGiveLife #EmpathyIsTheRemedy #HonorNicoleLedina #GiveBloodSaveLives #BloodDonationDrive #DonateBlood #SanDiegoBloodBank #SleevesUp #LifesavingMission #CommunityCares
Our socials are in the Menu header above.
Click the “4 Easy Steps” button to Join the Mission
Why Donate Blood?
There is no substitute for human blood; blood cannot be manufactured
If all eligible donors gave blood at least three (3) times a year, blood shortages would be rare
One pint of blood can save up to three lives
Did You Know?
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36,000 pints of donated blood are transfused into patients each day in the US
Every 2 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion
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About 1 in 7 people entering a hospital will need blood
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A standard blood donation is typically donating a pint or 500 mL unit of whole blood
An average size woman has 10 pints of blood; an average size man has 12 pints
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7% of your body weight is blood
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Join OPERATION REPLENISH: Together We Give Life
Join in 4 Easy Steps:
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Check the requirements for our blood donation partners San Diego Blood Bank (SDBB), also operating as Southern California Blood Bank in Los Angeles and Orange counties and the American Red Cross (ARC) SleevesUp Program. Requirements will apply based on the donation center location you choose in Step 2:
For SDBB: https://sandiegobloodbank.org/donors/blood-donor-requirements
For ARC SleevesUp: https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html
If you are NOT eligible to Donate, please consider other “Ways You Can Support the Mission” listed in that section above → Link
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A) If you are in SoCal, check our local partner, San Diego Blood Bank / Southern California Blood Bank (SDBB). Enter your zip code at this link to find a blood drive or donor center near you:
https://sandiegobloodbank.org/donate
B) If SDBB locations are not convenient or you are elsewhere, visit our American Red Cross (ARC) SleevesUp campaign link here:
CLICK “Pledge to Give Blood” button, Fill in Form, and system will provide location options near your Zip Code.
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For SDBB - After selecting your donation location, select your preferred Date, Donation Type, and Time. Fill in Appointment Details and Confirm. Link is here:
https://sandiegobloodbank.org/donate
IMPORTANT: Don’t forget to use our SDBB campaign Code at Check-In for your appointment= NL26
For ARC SleevesUp - After clicking the “Pledging To Give Blood” button, Filling in the Form and Clicking the “Make a Pledge” button, a map will come up based on your Zip Code. Select your preferred Date, Location, Time, and Donation Type. Click “Create My Account” if you don’t have an ARC account yet, or “Sign In” if you already have an account. Follow the directions to confirm your Appointment.
IMPORTANT: Please use this exclusive link to insure that your blood donation pledges and appointments automatically get associated with our campaign.
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Last Step is to RSVP to Join the Mission. Please Click on the “Join the Mission Today” button directly below this section to be directed to our OPERATION REPLENISH campaign page, powered by GiveButter. The link is also here:
Please RSVP so we can track and measure the effectiveness and impact of our Mission to Save Lives!
Click the “Join the Mission Today” button below to RSVP, Form or Join a Team, and/or Donate to the Mission.
Virtual Blood Drive
Event Details
Date: Launching Saturday, July 12, 2025, Nicole’s Birthday weekend, and will be an ongoing program
Time: Multiple Time Slots Available
Location: Multiple Locations Available
Our partners have blood donation centers or locations locally in Southern California and throughout the United States as well. Please refer to the 4 steps above to determine eligibility, find a convenient location, schedule an appointment, and how to RSVP to Join the Mission.
Ongoing Program: Since this is an ongoing program, we encourage all supporters to make multiple blood and recurring gift donations throughout the year, if you are able.
Voices of Hope and Gratitude
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![Roger Ledina - Executive Director]()
“I am Thrilled that we are launching OPERATION REPLENISH to honor Nicole’s legacy. She really wanted to replenish all the blood products that she used and more, during her hospitalization . . . unfortunately she was not able to fulfill that wish. With OPERATION REPLENISH we can all help in making that come true for her. Together we can all Give precious Life to others in need. Please Join us in this Mission to Save Lives!
Roger Ledina - Executive Director, Empathy is the Remedy Foundation - “Dad”
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![Claudine Van Gonka, Director of Community Relations & Media]()
“We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with Empathy is the Remedy in our shared mission to uplift and strengthen our community. Together we’ll work to ensure hospital patients in Southern California in need get the life-saving blood products they need to survive and thrive."
Claudine Van Gonka, Director of Community Relations & Media - San Diego Blood Bank
FAQs
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4 Easy Steps:
Determine if You are Eligible to Donate Blood
Find a Blood Donation Location Near You
Schedule Your Appointment
RSVP to Join the Mission
See Details in the Join the Mission Section above → Link
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You can help expand our reach and impact by creating or joining a team on our campaign page. Encourage your friends, family, or colleagues to join. You will be able to see how your team stacks up against other teams throughout the campaign.
Click this link to be directed to our OPERATION REPLENISH campaign page, powered by GiveButter to Form or Join a Team:
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Blood Donation Safety and Eligibility is fully managed and determined by our partners, San Diego Blood Bank also operating as Southern California Blood Bank in some counties and the American Red Cross SleevesUp Program. Please refer to their information and guidance on their respective websites.
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Spread the word. Share with your friends, family, and contacts
Share Posts & Tag us on Social Media
Make a monetary donation.
See the “Ways You Can Support the Mission” section at this link for more details → Link
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Please fill in our contact form and we will get back to you ASAP.
Click Here → Contact Form Link