Urgent Blood Drive This Friday in Manchester

Hurricane Sandy didn’t only hit homes and families hard – it also hit the Connecticut blood supply hard.  Mazda of Manchester will host a blood drive this Friday to help bring those supplies back up to where they should be.

The blood drive will take place from 1 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. this Friday, November 2, at 80 Oakland St. in Manchester.

Hurricane Sandy has affected blood collections in the Northeast, forcing the cancellation of more than 200 American Red Cross blood drives, resulting in a shortfall of more than 7,000 donations thus far.  That number is sure to rise over the next several days as blood drives are postponed due to power outages and flooding.  

While Hurricane Sandy has affected the number of people available to donate, hospital patients still need blood. Nationwide, around 44,000 blood donations are needed each and every day to meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients, and children with blood disorders. When disaster strikes, the need for blood does not diminish, even though blood donors may find it difficult to get to a convenient donation opportunity. 

It’s the blood that is already on the shelves that helps save lives before, during and after a disaster. We urge you to consider donating blood today, or once it’s safe to do so. Help us ensure that blood and platelets are available for patients in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy by scheduling an appointment today to donate blood or platelets.  

Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit us online at redcrossblood.org to find a local blood drive in your area.