New York State Senator Pete Harckham announced that his sixth blood drive, held in partnership with New York Blood Center (NYBC) and the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department, successfully collected 40 pints of blood, potentially saving up to 120 lives. The blood drive occurred at the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department headquarters on Wednesday, June 12, just days after the NYBC declared a severe blood shortage in the region.
“This blood drive is a great example of how community members can come together to help in times of a severe shortage in our blood supply,” Harckham said. “I thank our generous donors, the NYBC, and the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department for responding to the blood emergency and making this drive successful. Someone needs blood every two seconds, and the donated blood can help not only accident victims but also those undergoing cancer treatment, certain surgeries, and treatment for blood disorders,” said Harckham.
NYBC declared the blood emergency after experiencing a shortfall of 2,100 units over the previous three weeks. NYBC Account Manager Camilo Rubio, who supervised the drive, expressed gratitude for the support, saying, “We would like to thank Senator Pete Harckham and the Mahopac Fire Department for hosting a successful emergency blood drive today that collected 40 very important blood donations.”
The blood shortage threatens the region’s supply, especially with the approach of summer, a period often marked by an increase in traumatic accidents requiring blood transfusions. In New York State alone, more than 56,000 traumas are reported annually, predominantly during weekends and summer months, highlighting the urgent need for donors. Following Senator Harckham’s example, we hope that more individuals will sponsor blood drives during these critical summer months.