The Fairfax County NAACP and Reston Community Center partnered with The American Red Cross to host a community blood drive as part of an initiative to grow the number of blood donors who are Black in order to help more patients with sickle cell disease.
Sickle cell patients, the majority of whom are Black and/or of African descent, rely on Black blood donors to provide lifesaving transfusions as part of their treatment. This is because patients who require regular blood transfusions, like those with sickle cell disease, may develop an immune response against blood from donors that is not closely matched to their own. The NAACP plans to hold regular blood drives throughout the year to address the need for blood and encourage people of color to donate. All blood types are needed. Visit redcrossblood.org for more information or to register.