Forest Hills Weekend Blood Drive To Support Ukrainian Refugees

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — An upcoming blood drive in Forest Hills will support Ukrainian refugees.

Commonpoint Queens in Forest Hills, located at 67-09 108th Street, is hosting a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in partnership with the New York Blood Center.

The event comes as the center partners with the Global Blood Fund to raise money — $1 per blood-donation — for Rehome Ukraine, which is supporting Ukrainian refugees fleeing their war-torn homeland.

"This campaign just began and already we have received a tremendous response — our donors show up not just for their neighbors, but for the people around the world who need help," said Andrea Cefarelli, Senior Executive Director at New York Blood Center.

In addition to benefiting the resettlement organization, the blood drive will help replenish New York's blood supply, which has remained at critically low levels throughout the pandemic as people became more wary of giving blood.

New York Blood Center, however, said it is taking extra precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at its events (including the blood drive in Forest Hills), noting that donating blood only takes one hour.

Per the blood center's rules, donors on Sunday must symptom-screen for COVID-19, and be 14 days symptom free if recently recovered from COVID-19.

The fundraiser on behalf of Ukrainian refugees comes over a month after President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian forces to invade Ukraine.

Over 900 Ukrainian civilians have reportedly died as Russia's military has bombed and assaulted cities countywide, though the true death toll is likely much higher, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said last month.

To donate on Sunday in Forest Hills sign up online or contact Commonpoint Queens for more information.