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Give Back: Winter Blood Drives This Season

LongIsland.com

Make someone’s season brighter by giving back this holiday.

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Photo: Shutterstock.

Everyone knows that the holidays are about the feels. What better way to feel good than to give back this holiday season. There is a huge need for blood right now. According to a story in Newsday, Covid has led to fewer blood drives and less blood available. We gathered a list of local blood drives for you to give back to help make someone else’s season a little brighter - and maybe your own too in the process.

 

A recent press release by The New York Blood Center urged people to donate.

 

“Before COVID-19, mobile blood drives hosted by high schools, colleges, businesses and other organizations made up about 75% of the region’s incoming blood supply, but the number of blood drives has dropped by two-thirds this year due to the pandemic,” the statement said.

 

Hospital needs are well above pre-pandemic levels while donations continue to lag behind and never reach the ideal level of 5-7 days. New York Blood Center is encouraging first time donors to sign up to make an appointment.

 

Donate blood at the locations below:

  • West Islip Fire Department - New York Blood Center will be hosting a blood drive co-sponsored by the Emily Meyer Foundation, the West Islip Fire Department and New York State Assemblyman Michael Durso on Monday, December 20th at West Islip Fire Department from 2:45pm-8:45pm. The Emily Meyer Foundation will be collecting toys at the blood drive for children in local hospitals with critical, chronic or unexpected illnesses. To make an appointment at the blood drive, please sign up here. Location: West Islip Fire Department, 309 Union Blvd, West Islip.
  • The New York Blood Center - Locations throughout Long Island. Click here to see the donor schedule at a center close to you.
  • Riverhead Fire Department Blood Drive - On Tuesday, December 7, there will be a blood drive at the Riverhead Fire Department. Click here for details. Location: 540 Roanoke Avenue, Riverhead.
  • Oyster Bay Town Blood Drive - On Monday, December 20 from 1pm to 7pm at the Hicksville Athletic Center, located at 167 S. Broadway in Hicksville. Appointments are preferred for the Town’s Blood Drive. To qualify as a donor, a person must be between the ages of 17 and 75 years old (16 with parental permission and 76 or older with a doctor’s note), weigh at least 110 pounds and not have donated blood within the last 56 days. All donors will receive a voucher for a free Blizzard at Dairy Queen.