Starting Friday, June 9 through Tuesday, June 13, OneBlood is hosting several Pulse remembrance blood drives throughout the Tampa Bay area.
Monday, June 12 marks one year since the Pulse nightclub massacre where a gunman murdered 49 people and injured dozens of others.
OneBlood is honoring the victims and survivors and reminding people to give one more time.
"We all bleed red on the inside. We're all humans. We're all Americans and I think in this time in our nation we all pull together and we need to continue to do that," Dan Eberts with OneBlood said.
Organizers said they were touched by how many people donated immediately after the Orlando tragedy and said the blood supplies they had on hand already truly made a difference in people's lives. Eberts said more than 400 blood donations went to Pulse survivors.
"Truly the silent heroes of that tragedy were the people who gave two and three days ahead of time to make sure we had a safe, available, and affordable blood supply on the shelf to save lives that day," Eberts said.
One year later, OneBlood wants to remind the community that blood is needed every day and encourages all eligible donors to donate at one of the many Pulse remembrance blood drives that will be taking place.
Eberts said of the 19,000 people, who previously donated and donated immediately following the attack, only half of them have donated this year. Eberts said of the 10,000 first time donors, who gave blood following the Pulse shooting, only 25 percent have donated again since the tragedy.
"Sometimes it takes a tragedy for people to think about blood needs, but every day there are patients and families who get second chances because of blood donors," Eberts said.
Generally healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood. A Photo ID is required and all donors will receive a “Still Strong, Still United, Still One” T-shirt.
For other participating locations, hours & appointments visit oneblood.org/pulse or call (888) 936-6283. Appointments will be honored and walk-ins are welcomed.
-
Friday, June 9: 4:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Tampa Bay Rays Tropicana Drive | St. Petersburg
-
Saturday, June 10: 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
- Tampa Bay Rays Tropicana Drive | St. Petersburg
-
Monday, June 12: 6:45 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- iHeart Radio Media Group | 4002 Gandy Blvd | Tampa
-
Monday, June 12: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
- One Blood Tampa Bay | 4041 W Kennedy Blvd | Tampa
-
Tuesday, June 13: 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
- Cox Media Group at Derby Lane Racing | 10490 Gandy Blvd | St. Petersburg
All donors on Monday at the iHeart Radio Media Group studio and One Blood Tampa Bay location in downtown Tampa will receive free mini donuts from the Little Donut House and a coupon good for a 3-pack of mini donuts in-store.
