By Sean Inoue, Red Cross Biomedical Services
The American Red Cross has been hard at work ensuring there is enough blood for patients during this ongoing crisis. However, we cannot do our work alone. Most blood drives take place because of generous partners in the community including schools, hospitals, community organizations, cities and civic organizations. To thank them for their dedication and hard work in being partners, every month we will identify and feature two community partners that have gone above and beyond in their critical role to ensure a stable blood supply. The Partner Spotlight is our way of thanking our generous and paramount partners.
Shepherd Church
Shepherd Church has been an incredibly impactful and invaluable partner throughout the pandemic. As Blood Program Partners, Shepherd Church in Porter Ranch has answered our call to action by hosting monthly blood drives to ensure we can meet our patient need.
So far, Shepherd Church has collected 463 units of life saving helping to save up to 1,389 patient lives.
Shepherd Church continues to support the local community beyond hosting blood drives. The church organizes service drives for critical supplies including food, toiletries and blankets to help community members in need. In October alone, they collected more than 450 food packs for Children’s Hunger Fund and partnered with Council District 12 to donate more than 650 meals throughout the community.
We are proud to have Shepard Church as part of our Red Cross family and look forward to continuing our work together to help save lives.
Pantages Theatre
The Hollywood Pantages Theatre has been entertaining the greater Los Angeles community for 90 years since its opening in June 1930. In May when “Hamilton” was supposed to be on stage, the Pantages Theatre had to close its doors because of the pandemic. However, when the Red Cross sent out a request for sponsors to help set up urgent blood drives, the historic theater opened its doors.
Since May, the Pantages has hosted a monthly blood drive giving donors a beautiful venue with lofty art deco ceilings to gaze at while giving blood. Thus far, 416 units of blood have been collected potentially saving up to 1,248 lives.
Thank you to the Hollywood Pantages Theater for being such great partners in our lifesaving mission.
Host a Blood Drive
About 80 percent of blood donations are made at drives hosted by community organizations, schools and businesses. With the current pandemic, the Red Cross urgently needs the help of both donors and drive hosts to ensure blood products are readily available for patients.
Learn more and sign up to sponsor a drive by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive.
Thank you to this month’s blood drive partner spotlights and to all who host blood drives in their communities to help us meet this essential need.
