Parkland Health Center has partnered with the American Red Cross to host community blood drives for years. But 2020 brought challenges with community events in Farmington and across the country.
According to the Red Cross, blood drives have been canceled in unprecedented numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic as organizations, businesses and schools have temporarily closed or restricted access to these community locations where drives are held for the public. Numbers for blood drives at Parkland Health Center in Farmington and Bonne Terre were expected to be low.
Nothing could have been further from the truth.
In 2019, eight drives collected 133 units of blood. With one drive remaining, 2020 is on track to see that total increase by 32%.
“This is the result of our team members and our community showing up for each other,” said Dr. Zahid Kaleem, Medical Director, Pathology and Laboratory, at Parkland Health Center. “In the middle of a global pandemic, this community really came together to help.”
The last remaining blood drive of 2020 will be at the Lincoln Street Event Center in Desloge on Tuesday, Dec. 29, from 3-7 p.m. You can register to donate at the American Red Cross website.
“Parkland has been a fantastic partner not just during COVID-19, but for many years,” said Ron Lassman, account manager with the American Red Cross. “We look forward to 2021.”