Shops at Atlas Park (Google Maps)
Aug. 26, 2020 By Allie Griffin
A weekly blood drive will be held in Glendale starting this Friday after the pandemic has wreaked havoc on the city’s blood supply.
The New York Blood Center (NYBC) will host a blood drive Aug. 28 at the Shops at Atlas Park, located at 8000 Cooper Ave., from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. as part of a series of blood drives each Friday through Sept. 11.
The region’s blood supply has dropped significantly since COVID-19 struck. The number of blood drives–typically held at schools, businesses and various organizations–has dropped by about two thirds in recent months. Approximately 75 percent of the region’s blood supply comes through drives.
NYBC hopes to get 50 donations Friday, which can help up to 150 patients. Roughly one in seven hospital admissions require a blood transfusion.
Past blood drives at the Shops at Atlas Park have collected 722 donations so far this year.
COVID-19 precautions will be in place during the blood drive at Shops at Atlas Park. People are not eligible to donate blood if they have a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection or flu-like symptoms.
NYBC began hosting a limited number of blood drives again this summer, but is far from the number of drives needed to support area hospitals and needs more partners to host the drives in large venues.
Businesses that have a space available and would like to host a blood drive, can sign up here.
