Philoptochos Sponsored Blood Drive - September 20, 2020

[Fr. Nicholas Hadzellis]

Your blessings, 

Good evening, I pray this email finds everyone well and healthy!

During this COVID crisis, blood supplies have been lower than ever.  As a matter of fact, 70% of scheduled blood drives have been cancelled making this a very desperate time for those needing blood. 

The St. Barbara Philoptochos Society of St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church is hosting a blood drive on Sunday, February 20, 2020, 

12:00 - 4:00 p.m. in our Fellowship Hall.  All efforts are being made to ensure a safe and sterile environment for anyone who would like to donate. All donors are asked to sign up for their donation time on the below sign up link.  This will make social distancing easier.  There can be 4 donors per hour, per team.  48 slots are open, and our goal is to have 35 donors.  

Along with the normal testing of iron and cholesterol, the donors blood will also be tested for COVID antibodies. This will be tested in a separate vial of blood.  The plasma collected is being used as an experimental treatment for seriously ill COVID-19 patients who are not responding to other treatments. The below link explains in detail about the COVID antibody testing:

 

https://www.carterbloodcare.org/now-offering-covid-19-antibody-testing-for-blood-donors/

In order to see your results after donating blood, you can click on the following link:

https://ww2.greatpartners.org/donor/auth/signin

Donors will need keep the post donation card with the unit number on it if they have never logged in before. If they need help logging in, they can also call the blood center at 817-412-5300. The antibody test results take about a week to show up online. If your blood does show the COVID antibodies, you then have the option to donate your plasma if you wish.  This is done in another location and Carter Bloodcare can direct you to the correct one.

Donors must be 16 years or older.  16 year olds must produce a signed form by their parents, which I have attached below.  All other donors must provide a form of id.

Carter Blood Center asks that for anyone who wants to donate, please carefully read the requirements of a blood donor on their website.  Also, on the website is the healthcare questionnaire that you can fill out prior to your donation to speed up the process.  Their website is as follows:

carterbloodcare.org

Being that this drive will be held on Sunday and many people will be coming after Liturgy and not have had breakfast, Philoptochos will be providing a light breakfast for all donors, bagels, muffins, fruit, etc.  Just enough to have something in your stomach as no one should donate on an empty stomach. After your donation, the blood center will supplies snacks and juices.

To schedule your blood donation, please click on the following link:

 https://ww3.greatpartners.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/116347

I will be sending update emails as the date gets closer.  While we understand that not everyone can donate because of health or other issues, we hope everyone else will consider giving this gift of life.