Sephardic Center blood drive draws 41 donors, restocks supply for accident victim
July 13 drive at the Sephardic Congregation of the Five Towns yielded 43 donations benefiting 129 patients, New York Blood Center says another drive is needed this month.
A blood drive held July 13 at the Sephardic Congregation of the Five Towns brought in 41 registered donors, resulting in 43 total donations that will benefit 129 patients, according to an email from David Blatt, an account manager at the New York Blood Center, reported by 5 Towns Central. The total included 32 whole blood donations, five double red cell donations that each count as two units, and one plasma donation. Three donors were deferred. Blatt noted that 16 of the 41 donors were giving blood for the first time or for the first time with the New York Blood Center.
The Sephardic Center said in a message shared by 5 Towns Central that many of the donors came out after seeing posts about the drive, and that the blood collected went toward restocking supply used to treat Moshe ben Dina, who was injured in an accident. The center said he has undergone surgeries, is improving, and was able to sit up on his own as of the morning the message was sent.
Despite the strong turnout, the center said the blood supply remains critically low and described the shortage as an ongoing emergency. Another drive is scheduled for July 27 from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Hachaim Vehashalom minyan location on Cedarhurst Avenue and Willow in Cedarhurst.