New York State Senator Pete Harckham partnered with the American Red Cross to host a community blood drive this Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD), collecting 25 pints of blood, including donations from four first-time donors.
The drive marked Harckham’s eleventh blood drive since taking office in 2019 and came at a critical time for the region’s blood supply. On July 8, the New York Blood Center declared a blood emergency, signaling that supplies of critical blood types had fallen to less than a one- to two-day supply across the region.
“This blood drive was a great example of how community members can come together to help in times of a severe shortage in our blood supply,” said Harckham. “I thank our generous donors, the American Red Cross and the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department for responding to the blood emergency and making this drive a success.”
Blood donations are essential to helping patients facing a wide range of medical emergencies and health challenges, including traumatic injuries, surgeries, cancer treatments and other life-threatening conditions.
“The American Red Cross is grateful to Senator Pete Harckham and the MVFD for their leadership and partnership in hosting this successful blood drive,” said Lori Chapman. “Through the generosity of the Mahopac community, 25 pints of blood were collected to help support patients in need. We sincerely thank the Senator, the MVFD, and every donor who rolled up a sleeve to support our lifesaving mission.”
“The Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department was happy to help sponsor and provide space for the blood drive so that precious donations can be collected to save lives,” said Steve Storino, MVFD President “We are grateful to everyone who donated, and we especially want to thank our department members who rolled up their sleeves and donated as well.”
The need for blood donors remains constant, with more than 56,000 traumatic injuries reported annually in New York State. A single blood donation can be separated into several components, including red blood cells, platelets and plasma, allowing it to help multiple patients. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body, platelets help blood clot, and platelets are also vital for many patients undergoing cancer treatment.
Harckham thanked the Mahopac community for its generosity and encouraged residents to consider donating blood to help ensure lifesaving supplies are available for patients when they need them most.
