For the fourth consecutive year, the Bay Area’s interfaith community will rally together in support of the American Red Cross and the local blood supply.
The Interfaith Community Blood Drive, which is comprised of dozens of individual blood drives, is an annual event that takes place each July–a difficult time of year to collect blood.
“Historically, we see a decrease in blood donations across the nation during the summer months,” said Justin Mueller, manager of donor recruitment for the Red Cross in Northern California. “The Interfaith Community Blood Drive has helped us mitigate that decline locally and we now collect more in July than in many other months.”
Blood drives will be held at places of worship throughout the Bay Area – stretching from Sonoma County to Monterey County. More than 10 different faith-based groups take part in the event each year, but the primary sponsors are the local Mormon and Catholic churches.
“This blood drive provides our church members with an opportunity to work shoulder-to-shoulder to meet a great need in the community,” said Dean Criddle, president of the Oakland Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Blood is an intensely personal gift. In a very literal sense, it is a gift of self–sometimes a gift of life.”
In its first three years, the Interfaith Community Blood Drive collected approximately 7,300 pints of blood for patients in need. It is believed to be the largest blood drive sponsored by faith-based groups in the history of the national Red Cross organization.
“We are extremely grateful for the blood drive sponsors, donors, and volunteers who take part in this event each year,” Mueller said. “Their dedication helps ensure that blood is available throughout the year.”
Interfaith Community blood drives are open to the public and the Red Cross encourages Bay Area residents to participate in this lifesaving effort. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.
The following locations that are located in Concord Stake:
- Martinez 7/8/2014: Noon to 6 p.m.: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 940 Palisade Drive
- San Pablo 7/12/2014: Noon to 6 p.m.: St. Paul’s Church, 1845 Church Lane
- Concord 7/30/2014: Noon to p.m.: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1360 Alberta Way
If the above locations aren't convenient to your place of work or don't fit within your summer schedule, click here to view a partial list of Interfaith Community blood drives coming up this summer throughout the Bay Area.
Schedule Your Appointment
To schedule an appointment to donate blood at the Martinez blood drive click here or please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)
To schedule an appointment to donate blood at any other location, visit http://www.redcross.org/blood and enter the sponsor code INTERFAITHCOMMUNITY in the red box (as seen below).
