April 7, 2020
Life saving blood donations still needed
The donation of blood has seen a sharp decline in recent weeks as Red Cross drives have been cancelled across the region. But volunteers are coming together this week at the Black River Coliseum to help. A blood drive that started Monday will continue through 6 p.m. Wednesday through a partnership between the Wake Foundation, John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, the BRC and the Red Cross...
By DONNA FARLEY and PAUL DAVIS
The donation of blood has seen a sharp decline in recent weeks as Red Cross drives have been cancelled across the region.
But volunteers are coming together this week at the Black River Coliseum to help.
A blood drive that started Monday will continue through 6 p.m. Wednesday through a partnership between the Wake Foundation, John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, the BRC and the Red Cross.
“The reason for this is we’ve had such a severe cancelation of blood drives,” said Robert Wake of the Wake Foundation. “We’re talking about 9,000 drives that have been cancelled (across the country).”
The event is staffed with professionals who are maintaining social distancing and other protective measures, he said.
“We’re doing everything possible to make this a safe experience for all of our donors,” Wake said.
The VA helped provide volunteers to staff the event, said Dale Garrett of the VA’s voluntary services program.
“We stepped up and said we’d make sure all the volunteer needs were covered to help make this event happen,” he said. “I ramped up people within the VA and some of our family members and we’re here to help, hoping everyone can come down and donate blood.”
The blood drive will continue from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. For more information and to sign up, go online to www.redcrossblood.org.
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