Local schools leading blood drives during critical need

Staff Reports Posted 23 September 2020 at 9:21 am

Red Cross blood drives raise scholarship money, offer antibody testing

Schools in Orleans County will still host their fall blood drives with some at community locations as well.

Most high schools host fall and spring blood drives for the students, faculty and staff at their respective schools. Each school earns scholarship money for students with the amount of the scholarship depending on the number of units collected throughout the school year during the blood drives.

This year the students, faculty and staff hope the public comes in to donate blood to boost the scholarship amount and also help fill a critical blood shortage. Each donation helps to save up to three lives.

These schools are hosting blood drives in September and October:

  • Kendall High School – Thursday, September 24 at Kendall Town Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Albion High School – Thursday, October 8 at Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Albion High School – Thursday, October 22 at Arnold Gregory Complex from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Holley High School – Tuesday, October 27 at Holley High School from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Roy-Hart High School – Wednesday, October 28 at Middleport Fire Hall from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Medina High School – Friday, October 30 at Orleans County YMCA from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

All participating donors will receive a free gift and all donations are tested for the Covid-19 antibody. The antibody test has been extended until January 15, 2021.  An antibody test screens for antibodies in your blood, which are formed when fighting an infection, like Covid-19.

An antibody test assesses whether your immune system has responded to the infection, not if the virus is currently present. The Covid-19 antibody test is authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to the coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms.

Donors who test positive for Covid-19 antibodies may have the unique opportunity to help patients fighting the disease.

Appointments are encouraged. You can make an appointment online at www.redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

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