The Philanthropy Team at Blackfynn is promoting a virtual blood drive to encourage blood donations to the American Red Cross, which is facing a severe shortage of blood due to COVID-19. Details forthcoming!

Why Should You Donate?
Due to COVID-19, the American Red Cross is facing an unprecedented level of shortage for blood donations. Typically, volunteer blood drives held at offices, churches and schools amount to 80% of blood that the Red Cross collects in a given year. This blood shortage could dramatically impact patients who need surgery, victims of car accidents and other emergencies, or patients suffering from cancer or other chronic conditions, such as sickle cell anemia. The Red Cross has implemented new safety measures to protect the health and safety of donors and staff at blood donation centers during this time. Furthermore, the FDA has even changed guidance on who can donate to help encourage a greater number of donations.

How to Donate Safely?
To donate blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification that 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 must meet certain height and weight requirements.

Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass. With RapidPass, donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation, from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.
In Philadelphia and the surrounding areas, there are multiple places to donate, including:
– American Red Cross Eastern PA, 2221 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
– St. Agatha St. James Church, 3728 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
– American Red Cross, 700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
– Temple University, Mitten Hall, 1913 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122
– Northeast Philadelphia Blood Donation Center, 1401 Rhawn Street, Philadelphia, PA 19111
– Springfield Hospital, 190 West Sproul Road, Springfield, PA 19064
– Camden County Blood Donation Center, 5425 Marlton Pike, Pennsauken, NJ 08109

For a comprehensive list of available donation locations and times, please visit the Red Cross site.

Blackfynn’s Pledge
Blackfynn is excited to support the American Red Cross and would like to encourage eligible team members and their immediate family members to donate. As such, Blackfynn pledges to donate $10 to the Red Cross for each blood donation, up to a $500 donation. Blood donations should take place between May 26 and July 3, 2020. We are on the honor system and won’t ask for proof.

Team members are encouraged to share pictures in the #philanthropy Slack channel with the hashtag #BlackfynnVirtualBloodDrive2020. That said, please be mindful to not share any personal or medical information when doing so.