This event will raise money for the school’s scholarship fund and organizers hope it will inspire other groups to take initiative to host their own blood drives
New York Blood Center (NYBC) will host a blood drive at Gorton High School on Saturday, May 3rd from 11:00am to 3:30pm as part of the school’s first Touch a Truck event. The event will include appearances by the Yonkers Police Department, Yonkers Fire Department, and Yonkers Ambulance Corps, with a special landing by the Westchester County helicopter on the school field. Attendees can explore emergency vehicles, meet first responders, and enjoy games, live music, and food vendors.
Gorton High School has been a long-time partner of NYBC, hosting blood drives for over 28 years and encouraging blood donation during some of the most critical times for the blood supply. The school hopes that fun initiatives like this one will help raise money for its scholarship fund and encourage more organizations to host blood drives of their own.
NYBC recently issued an urgent call for type O+ and O- blood donations. The current supply of O- blood has dropped to just two days, and overall collections are nearly 20% below the level needed to meet hospital demands. This drop in donations is due to seasonal factors such as school breaks, holiday travel, and busy spring schedules.
Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted several blood donor eligibility restrictions. To view current eligibility guidelines, visit nybc.org or call 800.688.0900.
WHEN: Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Gorton High School, 100 Shonnard Pl, Yonkers, NY 10703
WHO: Blood Donors, Volunteers, and New York Blood Center Representatives
WHY: It only takes one hour to donate, and a single donation can save multiple lives. Roughly one in seven hospital admissions require a blood transfusion. Those in need include: cancer patients, accident, burn, or trauma victims, newborn babies and their mothers, transplant recipients, surgery patients, chronically transfused patients suffering from sickle cell disease or thalassemia, and many more.
To make an appointment at this blood drive, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit this link. Can’t donate blood? You can still make a lifesaving impact by supporting NYBC’s mission through financial contributions or volunteering your time. Click here to learn more.
