When blood shortages caused by COVID-19 swept across the country last year, the New York Blood Center in New York City turned to VFW Post 4589.
Honoring a partnership that stretches more than half-a-decade long, the Post in Spotswood, New Jersey, about 40 miles south of New York City, opened its doors three times a month for blood drives administered by the nonprofit.
“They needed large venues where they could conduct blood drives while maintaining social distancing and all that,” Post 4589 Commander Travis Fryzowicz said. “We’ve had a long working relationship with them, so we were prepared to host them throughout the entire pandemic.”
Beginning in mid-March, Fryzowicz and other Post members routinely opened, donated and closed the Post for blood center employees, who worked long hours to collect between 120 and 130 blood donations each visit.
“We collected 709 pints of blood as the VFW made themselves very available supporting our need for good space,” said Lynne Ross, a New York Blood Center account manager. “The support that the VFW has provided has been incredibly important to helping patients.”
Facing a statewide lockdown as a result of the pandemic, the Post only opened its doors three times a month to host blood drives until restrictions were lifted in August of last year.
Post 4589 has since continued to host blood drives, as well as returned to conducting its annual fundraisers, which include Boy Scout functions, picnics for disabled veterans, funeral services and other community-based events.
About the New York Blood Center:
The New York Blood Center is a nonprofit organization considered one of the largest independent, community-based blood centers in the world.
Since it’s creation in 1964, the New York Blood Center has belonged to a network of other centers across the country that collect approximately 4,000 units of blood products each day.
The network serves local communities responsible for more than 75 million people within the Tri-State and Mid-Atlantic areas, as well as Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Rhode Island and southern New England.