Flanders community blood drive set for Jan. 30, as region’s blood supply remains ‘critically low’

The Flanders Fire Department and the Flanders, Riverside and Northampton Community Association have teamed up to host a community blood drive Sunday, Jan. 30 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m..

The blood drive will take place at the Flanders Men’s Club, located at 1018 Flanders Road in Flanders.

The event will feature complimentary hero sandwiches from Meetinghouse Deli. Donors will be entered into a raffle from Cooperage Inn.

Appointments are preferred and can be made on the New York Blood Center website. People can also call 1(800)933-2566 or walk-in.

January is National Blood Month and this year, the region’s blood supply continues to be threatened by low donor turnout and blood drive cancellations due to surging levels of Omicron cases, the New York Blood Center said. 

“This is always a challenging time of year for the blood supply, as holiday plans and travel make donating blood less of a priority and winter weather can lead to blood drive cancellations. This year, those seasonal challenges are coinciding with a new wave of the pandemic,” the NY Blood Center said in a press release. “Blood centers across the country are and have been suffering from shortages since the start of the pandemic in March of 2020.”

Donating blood is safe and only takes one hour, the NY Blood Center said.

“We are taking extra precautions to help prevent the person-to-person spread of COVID-19. All NYBC staff are vaccinated. As always, people are not eligible to donate if they’re experiencing a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection or flu-like symptoms. People can donate blood regardless of vaccination status. Additional information on donor eligibility and COVID-19 precautions is available here,” NYBC said in the press release.

Schedule a donation appointment here.