BAPS Charities Holds Massive Blood Drives in US and Canada
Donors were happy to queue up and donate blood at Nashville, TN
India-West Staff Reporter
LOS ANGELES, CA – BAPS Charities organized a record-breaking 100 blood drives across North America in partnership with local blood banks. These drives helped collect 4,000 pints of blood to potentially save 12,000 lives (one pint can save up to three lives).
The 100 blood donation drives were organized to commemorate the centennial celebrations of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, who had inspired the creation of BAPS Charities, the humanitarian arm of BAPS. He lived by the motto ‘In the joy of others lies our own’ – which was the theme of the drives, a press release said.
The nationwide campaign to donate blood came during the worst blood shortage crisis in over a decade due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ian. With doctors and medical providers often being forced to make difficult decisions impacting patients requiring blood transfusions the Red Cross issued a call-to-action for all potential donors, volunteers, and blood drive organizers to help mitigate the crisis. BAPS rose to the occasion.
Anna Feltham, Account Manager, American Red Cross Blood Services in Chicago, IL, said, “The blood collected today will go a long way towards replenishing blood supplies and, ultimately, saving lives. With the 145 units we collected, up to 435 lives may be saved. Amazing!”
“BAPS Charities has been organizing blood drives for years, but I think this year is a record attempt by thousands of donors to save lives,” said Nilkanth Patel, President, BAPS Charities. “Our past campaigns helped save 44,000 lives, and with this year’s campaign, we have helped save another 22,500 lives.”
Dr. Subhash Patel, National Coordinator of Medical Services, said, “BAPS Charities would like to thank all the donors and blood agencies. Without their assistance, we would not have been able to provide the services vital to the well-being of our community.”
At the sites, volunteers guided blood donors and also made sure that the donors were relaxed, had a snack and drank liquids.
