By Denise DeFabio
Help Save More Lives in 2016.
Last year, parishioners of the Diocese in Brooklyn and Queens made nearly 5,000 lifesaving blood donations. That participation allowed the New York Blood Center (NYBC) to help an estimated 14,000 people throughout New York, New Jersey, parts of Connecticut and Pennsylvania. The NYBC is grateful for every donor’s effort, but the need for blood never ends.
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio has been a partner of this lifesaving healthcare initiative for many years and remains committed to reaching new heights in 2016. The bishop said: “Without the blood of Jesus Christ, we would not be spiritually alive and without your donation of blood, some people may not live.” In addition to these inspiring words, the bishop motivates parishioners to donate by recognizing top performing parishes and groups every year at the Immaculate Conception Center.
This year’s NYBC campaign got off to a slower than usual start, with a January blizzard forcing the cancelation of several essential drives. The NYBC believes the storm resulted in the loss of nearly 1,200 donations.
“In addition to the storm itself, the three-day build up affected our turnout dramatically,” said Andrea Cefarelli, executive director of Donor Recruitment at NYBC. “Everyone was busy prepping for this powerful storm – there was no time to donate blood.”
But NYBC is confident it can make up for that lost time, in part through this year’s offer of online registration. Donors participating in select drives can register from their computers or mobile devices at any time after midnight on the day of the drive. Organizers believe this will make the donation process quicker and more convenient for thousands of people. Donors can also simply go to a donation center and register upon their arrival.
Listed below are a few diocesan sponsored blood drives for March:
American Martyrs Church, Bayside – Sunday, March 13, 9:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.
St. Teresa’s Church, Woodside – Sunday, March 13, 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Bayside – Monday, March 14, 4:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Holy Child Church, Richmond Hill – Sunday, March 20, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Blessed Sacrament, Cypress Hills – Sunday, March 20, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
St. Anselm’s, Bay Ridge – Thursday, March 24, 2 – 8 p.m.
Our Lady Help of Christians, Midwood – Friday, March 25, 3 – 9 p.m.
With your help, the Diocese in Brooklyn and Queens and NYBC are looking forward to saving more lives together in 2016.
Denise DeFabio, who works in the diocese’s Human Resources department, is the diocesan coordinator for blood drives.