New York Blood Center (NYBC) is launching a new blood donation experience with the introduction of its state-of-the-art Blood Donation Pods. These portable and sustainable Pods are designed to provide a more comfortable, efficient, and convenient donation experience.  

The Blood Donation Pods are portable donor centers equipped with comfortable donor beds, a climate-controlled environment, and entertainment options, including access to streaming services and music to keep donors entertained throughout their donation process. Donors have the option of donating whole blood, double red cells, or platelets – a much-needed donation type that is typically limited to fixed donor centers only. 

In a city and community that never sleeps, NYBC is ensuring that the gift of life is just a heartbeat away with its innovative Blood Donation Pods. Recognizing that the average person is willing to travel only ten minutes or ten miles to donate blood, NYBC is prioritizing convenience and bringing lifesaving opportunities to every corner of the tri-state area. Given the limited number of donor centers – only 19 in the region – these portable Pods serve as convenient, mobile donor centers, making it easier for communities far from established centers to participate in this lifesaving mission. Cities, towns, and organizations can host a Pod in their communities from a few days to multiple weeks, providing flexible access to blood donation.

“As we celebrate 60 years of lifesaving innovation, we’re thrilled to introduce this new and innovative portable donor center and improved donor experience to blood donors in New York,” said Andrea Cefarelli, Senior Vice President at New York Blood Center. “Our goal is to make blood donation as comfortable and convenient as possible, and we believe these Pods will help us attract new blood donors and ultimately save more lives.”

Resorts World New York is partnering with NYBC for the official launch of the Blood Donation Pods by hosting a Pod at their Queens and Hudson Valley casino locations this month. “Resorts World New York is proud to support NYBC's mission to make blood donation more accessible to those that need it the most,” said Michelle Stoddart, Senior Vice President of Community Development. “By hosting the Blood Donation Pods, we are helping to bring this essential service directly to our communities, ensuring that lifesaving donations are always within reach to protect our public health priorities.”

NYBC is actively seeking additional organizations throughout communities in the tri-state to host a Pod. To make an appointment at the upcoming Resorts World New York pod locations, or to learn more about hosting a Pod with your organization, visit nybc.org/pod. 

Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted several blood donor eligibility restrictions. To view current eligibility guidelines, visit nybc.org or call 800.688.0900. Can’t donate blood? You can still support NYBC’s mission by texting ‘NYBC’ to ‘20222’ to give $25.

About New York Blood Center Enterprises
Founded in 1964, New York Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCe) celebrates 60 Years of Extraordinary Lifesaving Research, Innovation and Impact. NYBCe is one of the largest nonprofit, independent, community blood centers in the world. Along with regional divisions Blood Bank of Delmarva (BBD), Community Blood Center of Kansas City (CBC), Connecticut Blood Center (CTBC), Memorial Blood Centers (MBC), Nebraska Community Blood Bank (NCBB), and Rhode Island Blood Center (RIBC), we collect approximately 4,000 units of blood products each day and serve communities approaching 50 million people in the tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT), mid-Atlantic area (PA, DE, MD), Kansas City metropolitan area, Minnesota, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and Southern New England. NYBCe delivers lifesaving blood products and services as well as clinical, medical, pharmaceutical, testing, and consultative services to over 600 hospitals and dozens of research organizations, academic institutions, and biomedical companies. Among other milestones, our Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute pioneered the Hepatitis B vaccine and patented a solvent detergent plasma process, innovating blood-purification technology world-wide. For more information, visit nybc.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.