Give Blood In Rockland County: Help Fill The Gap

NEW YORK — You can help out the New York Blood Center, which with a 3-day blood supply has announced a blood emergency.

There will be 31 opportunities in Rockland County to donate blood between June 14 and July 31, not only at the Rockland Donor Center but also at churches, schools, town and village halls and the mall. Find a list of open blood drives.

The coronavirus pandemic resulted in a year of virtually no youth first-time donors and 100,000 New Yorkers who have yet to return to donate since before the shutdown, NYBC officials said.

Plus, there have been 3,000 fewer blood drives. You can host one; here's how.

Complicating matters, recently there has been a surge in blood usage as patients seek medical careand hospitals perform surgeries that were postponed during the pandemic. The increased need and lag in donors has created a real gap, NYBC officials said.

Donors can schedule appointments by calling 1-800-933-2566 or visiting www.nybc.org.