DULUTH, Ga. — Hundreds of people rolled up their sleeves during a “mega blood drive” at the Gas South Convention Center as the nation deals with critical shortages of blood.
About 400 people registered to give blood during the five hour event, hosted by the World Mission Society Church of God and the American Red Cross.
Church members, volunteers and people from the community came together to donate, with a goal of collecting 350 pints of blood.
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In June, the American Red Cross declared a national blood supply crisis, only the second such declaration in its history. The last time was in January 2022.
With more people outside doing activities, summer is known as trauma season with the need for blood is especially high. Shortages threaten the availability of blood for emergency surgeries and accident victims.
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Selena Lawrence of the World Mission Society Church of God told Channel 2’s Bryan Mims that one person’s donation could save the lives of three people.
“These blood drives, they make a huge impact on your community,” she said. “If you don’t know somebody who’s been through a traumatic event or they’ve had some type of surgery and they’ve needed a transfusion, you can consider yourself blessed,” she said.
The Red Cross said blood supplies fell nearly 25% in June, and type-O blood remains under significant strain.
Cristian Garcia told Channel 2 Action News he’s donated blood four times and turned out for the mega blood drive.
“At the end of the day, many people need blood. It saves a lot of lives,” he said. “I think that’s the reason I was moved to donate blood, just to know that somebody could actually receive or benefit just from a donation itself.”
The World Mission Society Church of God has partnered with the Red Cross for mega blood drives since 2009.
Last year they held the event at Mercedes Benz Stadium. Sunday’s drive ended at 3 p.m.
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