New York Blood Center (NYBC) will be hosting a blood drive with the West Islip Fire Department on Monday, September 23rd from 1:45pm to 7:45pm. The blood drive will be held in memory of Mitch Lohan, a beloved member of the West Islip community and former West Islip Fire Commissioner.
Mitch was an active volunteer and family man who lost his life to acute myeloid leukemia at 57 years old. He dedicated 38 years of service to the West Islip Fire Department and was a loyal supporter of West Islip sports, from local youth leagues to the varsity level. Known for his unwavering willingness to help others, Mitch was an active blood and platelet donor before his cancer diagnosis in 2020.
Mitch's family and friends are encouraging the West Islip community to honor his memory by donating blood so that blood products are available for those who may need them. One blood donation has the ability to save up to three lives.
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.
WHEN: Monday, September 23, 2024, from 1:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
WHERE: West Islip Fire Department, 309 Union Blvd, West Islip, NY 11795
WHO: Blood Donors, Volunteers, West Islip Fire Department Representatives and New York Blood Center Representatives
WHY: It only takes one hour to donate, and a single donation can save multiple lives. Roughly one in seven hospital admissions require a blood transfusion. Those in need include: cancer patients, accident, burn, or trauma victims, newborn babies and their mothers, transplant recipients, surgery patients, chronically transfused patients suffering from sickle cell disease or thalassemia, and many more.
To make an appointment at this blood drive, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit this link. 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 partner organizations 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.