Boothbay Region YMCA: Community Catalyst for Good

Providing space for blood drives
Tue, 05/11/2021 - 7:15am

The American Red Cross depends on blood drive sponsors and volunteer donors and to assure that there is always blood available when it is needed. The Red Cross counts on these generous volunteers to fulfill their lifesaving mission.

When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, thousands of blood drives were canceled across the country, as were hundreds here in Maine. But the need for blood doesn’t stop, not even for a pandemic. The Boothbay Region YMCA was forced to close its doors at the beginning of the pandemic, but when they opened for business again, they reached out to their Red Cross representative, David Stires, and let him know that the Y was available as a site for blood collection again.

“The role of blood drive sponsors like Boothbay Region YMCA really can’t be overstated,” said Red Cross Blood Services Account Manager, David Stires. “We depend on them to make sure that blood is always available whenever and wherever it is needed. With the support of this YMCA and generous, volunteer Boothbay-area donors, we have collected 360 pints of lifesaving blood since June, 2020.”

There is no other source for life-giving blood other than a healthy, volunteer donor. Only three percent of the United States’ population currently donates blood, but it is encouraging to note that as a donor site, the Boothbay Region YMCA has seen the addition of forty-one new, first-time blood donors since June, 2020.

“At the Y we believe that collaboration is not an option to choose, but a necessity to strengthen our community. We are grateful to be partnering with the American Red Cross, and we hope our continued efforts improve and enhance lives in our community. “says Logahn Stover

Blood that is donated today has a shelf life of only fifty-six days, so the need for donors to roll up a sleeve and give is on-going. When an emergency situation strikes, such as the Boston Marathon bombing, it’s the blood already on the shelves that helps save lives. The Red Cross encourages donors to make blood donations a regular part of their routine and schedule their donations every eight weeks, so blood is always on the shelves when it is needed.

Red Cross blood drives are held the first Thursday of every month in the gym at the Boothbay Region YMCA.