As the New York Blood Center declared that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has “destroyed the foundation on which the community donates blood to patients,” state Senator Joseph Addabbo announced that he is co-sponsoring several blood drives in Glendale this month.
The New York Blood Center will be at the Shops at Atlas Park, located at 8000 Cooper Ave., in the main room below Shiro of Japan each Friday of January, as well as one Saturday, to take blood donations from eligible participants. Donors will also receive a free T-shirt while supplies last.
According to the New York Blood Center, they are in need of blood donations because the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a chronic deficit between what is needed by hospitals and the current supply of blood donations.
“I am happy to once again co-sponsor these blood drives with Councilman Bob Holden, the Shops at Atlas Park and the New York Blood Center,” Addabbo said. “The Shops at Atlas Park have been an amazing partner to the New York Blood Center, helping to bring in over 1,000 donations, and we look to continue to build on that success. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a shortage in life-saving blood supplies at hospitals, so I encourage anyone who is eligible to go down and donate blood.”
The dates that the New York Blood Center will be at Atlas Park are Friday, Jan. 15; Friday, Jan. 22; and Friday, Jan. 29, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., as well as Saturday, Jan. 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants should remember to eat and drink before donating blood and must bring their donor ID card, or an ID with their name and photo.
The New York Blood Center’s rules state all donors wishing to give blood must wear a face covering, have their temperature taken before giving blood, and must be 14 days symptom free if recovered from COVID-19.
In addition, participants may not donate blood if they have a positive diagnostic test or have symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 14 days, or if they are currently on self-quarantine restrictions.
For more information on how to sign up for an appointment, visit nybc.org.
