For Black History Month, Atlanta, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Lansing, Oakland County, and Washington D.C. chapters have joined forces to serve the community through this vitrual blood drive. We are asking members and supporters to join us by donating blood to assist with the critical national shortage.
Blood donors who are Black play a critical role in helping people with sickle cell disease, the most common genetic blood disease in the U.S. Patients with the disease may rely on regular blood transfusions throughout their lives to help prevent sickle cell complications, such as organ and tissue damage, severe pain, and strokes. It is essential that the blood they receive be the most compatible match possible, which generally comes from someone of the same race or similar ethnicity. Today, there aren’t enough blood donors to help meet this urgent need. African American individuals make up 13% of the U.S. population, but less than 3% of blood donors. By donating blood, you may make a difference in the lives of patients with sickle cell disease as well as moms with complicated childbirths, people fighting cancer, accident or trauma victims being raced to emergency rooms, and more. Your single blood donation may even help save more than one life! (American Red Cross)
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
MSUBA Atlanta Chapter will be hosting an in person blood donation on Saturday, March 5, 2022 from 12-4 p.m. at Chastain Integrative Medicine located on 80 W Wieuca Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30342. We ask all our Atlanta Spartans to come and give blood on March 5. You can sign up here: https://donors.lifesouth.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/755946
Challenge your friends (or anyone for that matter) to a friendly competition! Who will win the battle to do the most social good for your community?
Put your virtual blood drive campaign against one or even multiple other campaigns to see who can recruit more blood donors for the American Red Cross.
