NEW YORK – With record-setting storms and freezing temperatures, New York is experiencing a severe strain on the blood supply. Since last March, New York has suffered from a chronic deficit in blood donations as nearly all high schools, colleges, offices, and other community groups have had to cancel their blood drives. The winter weather has made collecting blood even more difficult amid the pandemic.
“Winters are typically a difficult time of the year for blood collections, however this winter has been extraordinarily hard with the COVID-19 pandemic and record snowfall keeping folks indoors,” said Andrea Cefarelli, Senior Executive Director at New York Blood Center. “While it’s been a tough winter, New Yorkers are tougher. Please make an appointment to donate – you could be saving a life.”
Through the month of February, New York Blood Center is giving blood donors the chance to get free antibody testing at any of NYBC’s 18 fixed donor centers and all mobile drives in New York and New Jersey.
We are taking extra precautions to help prevent the person-to-person spread of COVID-19. As always, people are not eligible to donate if they’re experiencing a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection or flu-like symptoms. Additional information on donor eligibility and COVID-19 precautions is available here.
Donations are by appointment only and can be scheduled by calling 1-800-933-2566 or visiting nybc.org.
SCHEDULE DONATION APPOINTMENT NOW
