A Lifesaving Act: Community Blood Drive a Success

Our Times Staff

A community blood drive took place on Saturday morning at Memorial Baptist Church. The event was organized in partnership with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Health Committee, American Red Cross, Memorial Baptist Church, Memorial CDC, and other local organizations. Volunteers managed registration and assisted donors throughout the process as participants from the community arrived to donate blood.

More than 60 people donated during the event, helping to build a vital blood supply that supports patients with sickle cell disease as well as those facing a range of medical challenges, including trauma, surgeries, and cancer treatments. While Our Times Newspaper has placed special emphasis on raising awareness for sickle cell given the prevalence of the disease in the Black community.  Regular blood transfusions are often necessary to manage pain, prevent complications, and sustain health for sickle cell patients. Because compatible blood is often best found within a patient’s own ancestral community, these local drives are especially critical for Black and Latino patients.

“Every unit of blood collected here can make a real difference for someone who doesn’t have time to wait,” said a representative from the American Red Cross. One donation can help save more than one life.

Saturday’s drive was both practical and deeply personal — a reflection of neighbors showing up for neighbors. Organizers say the turnout reflects a growing understanding of the need for diverse blood donors and the power of community partnerships.

To find a blood drive near you, visit Schedule a Blood, Platelet or Plasma Donation | American Red Cross