Let It Bleed
Church organizes blood drives at a crucial time By Taylor Woodhouse
A
s knowledge of the COVID-19 pandemic led people to stay home in order to reduce the spread of the virus, blood donations were an unfortunate casualty. According to the American Red Cross, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a nationwide blood shortage. The Red Cross alone provides roughly 40 percent of the nation’s blood and blood components, but it relies entirely on volunteers. Fewer volunteers mean fewer lifesaving blood donations. As hospitals began to resume more sur- Monthly blood drives at the Naz make it easy to donate to those in need. geries and other procedures, blood was in low supply. As part of its mission to continue “Many delayed giving amid a return giving back to the community, the Naz to the workplace and in-person learnChurch facilitates monthly blood drives ing, as well as a result of the continued in partnership with the Red Cross. One donation can impacts of COVID-19,” says Cat ElWhile the blood drives are held at the potentially save up to kins, an account manager for American church in Grove City, all are encourthree lives Red Cross Blood Services. “Blood canaged to attend and donate, regardless of not be manufactured or stockpiled and their religious affiliations or ZIP code. Every two seconds, can only be made available through the The church has been a blood drive host someone in the U.S. needs kindness of volunteer donors.” since the early 2000s. The relationship blood or platelets A Grove City church was among dates back so long, in fact, that it prethose who answered the call to help. dates the organization’s digital records. The blood type most often The Naz Church has been a reli“The blood drives are just another requested by hospitals is gious fixture in Grove City since 1953. small way we can make a difference and type O Within the community, it also fulfills a make an impact in people’s lives,” says second role: blood drive organizer. Roberta Albert, communication director at the Naz. “It’s not necessarily a typical thing you think of a church doing, but it’s so beneficial and helpful.” When the Red Cross made clear Can I give blood if I have been vaccinated for COVID-19? a need for help, the Naz doubled the Yes. As with other vaccines, vaccination against COVID-19 doesn’t number of drives it held per year to change a person’s ability to safely give blood. Your donor volunteer will ask meet the demand. Volunteers from the you which vaccine you received. It’s recommended, but not required, that Naz worked with the Red Cross to imyou bring your vaccine card with you. plement additional protocols to keep Can I give blood if I have contracted COVID-19? donors and volunteers safe. Yes. However, you must wait at least 14 days from the point of a positive “We are extremely grateful for our test result to attend a blood drive. If you’re feeling in any way unhealthy, stay partnership with The Naz and all of our home and reschedule your blood donation for another time. blood drive hosts that support us, especially during that trying time,” Elkins says. Is it safe to attend a blood drive? The Red Cross states that only about Yes. The Red Cross has increased its safety measures to ensure donors three percent of age-eligible people doand volunteers can attend blood drives with peace of mind. Only healthy, nate blood each year. Blood drives are symptom-free people are eligible to donate. an essential way that the Red Cross and
Why Donate?
16 January/February 2022
www.DiscoverGroveCity.com
Photo Courtesy of The Naz Church
COVID-19 and Giving Blood
