Blood Drive To Be Held In Melville: Info

MELVILLE, NY — A blood drive is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday at West Hollow Middle School in Melville, the New York Blood Center announced.

The center announced a blood emergency earlier this month because of an alarming drop in blood donations. The region’s blood supply currently stands at just a 2-3-day level, which is well below the ideal inventory of 5 to 7 days, according to the blood center. NYBC highly encouraged all who are able to sign-up to donate.

Donors can sign up for the Melville Unity Fair Blood Drive online or by calling 1-800-933-2566.

The blood drive will be a part of the 22nd annual Unity Fair, which is hosted each year by the Half Hollow Hills PTA Council Diversity Committee.

The theme of this year’s fair is “Celebrating Our Differences,” with a community video montage entitled “What Does Unity Mean to You?” which will be displayed throughout the day in the auditorium. The fair will also include community groups with tables, activities, crafts, an international food court and performances in the auditorium.

The blood center said it is taking extra precautions to help prevent the person-to-person spread of the coronavirus. People are not eligible to donate if they’re experiencing a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection or flu-like symptoms. More information on donor eligibility and COVID-19 precautions is available here.

West Hollow Middle School is at 250 Old East Neck Road, Melville.

Blood donations take an hour, and a single donation can save multiple lives. Roughly one in seven hospital admissions requires a blood transfusion. Those in need include: cancer patients, accident, burn, or trauma victims, newborn babies and their mothers, transplant recipients, surgery patients, chronically transfused patients suffering from sickle cell disease or thalassemia, and many more.