WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center launched a new partnership with Vitalent Monday morning.

Vitalent is one of the nation’s oldest and largest non-profit community blood service providers, and the new partnership allows blood that’s donated from Eastern Panhandle residents to stay and serve the local hospitals to treat patients within the community.

“People who are donating know that it’s directly coming back to these local hospitals in Berkeley and Jefferson County and the other counties, even Morgantown is supplied by Vitalent.” said Blood Bank Supervisor Marybeth Weber.

Jefferson Medical Center will co-sponsor a blood drive in May with several community partners at the Ranson Civic Center.