Displaying items by tag: Patty Corvaia
Saratoga Casino Hotel to Host Blood Drive with the American Red Cross Amidst Emergency Blood Shortage
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Casino Hotel is teaming up with the American Red Cross to host a Blood Drive on July 23. Members of the local community are urged to join dozens of Saratoga Casino Hotel team members to give blood. The blood drive will take place inside the hotel ballroom and begin at noon and end 6 p.m.
This isn’t the first blood drive hosted by the Saratoga Casino Hotel.
“We always go into each one of our blood drives hoping to collect 50 donations. With the Red Cross recently issuing an emergency need for blood, we certainly would love to exceed our goal,” said Alex Tucker the General Manager at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
“We’ve partnered with the Red Cross on blood drives for over five years now... We strive to be good corporate stewards within our community whenever we have the chance, and our blood drives provide us with great opportunities to do just that. The work the Red Cross does is truly commendable,” he added.
The blood drive comes as the Red Cross recently raised the need for blood from a critical level to an emergency need on July 9. The Red Cross experienced a shortfall of more than 56,000 blood donations in May and June, resulting in a significant draw down of the Red Cross blood supply. It is about 7 percent short of what was needed during these months. In the New York-Penn Blood Services Region, more than 3,000 fewer donations were collected than needed during this time frame, contributing to the overall shortfall.
According to the American Red Cross, the shortfall is the equivalent of the Red Cross not collecting blood for more than four days and blood shortages are often worse around Independence Day due to fewer volunteer-hosted blood drives at places of work, worship or community gathering.
To date, Saratoga Casino Hotel has collected over 1,400 blood donations at their biannual blood drives. The collections have gone on to directly help over 3,200 patients in need.
“Our team members and the local community always respond with tremendous generosity when we host our blood drives,” said Tucker.
“Our partnership with the Red Cross is something we value, and we look forward to helping them out in a time of need,” he added.
“There is a very serious need forimmediatebloodandplatelet donations,” said Patty Corvaia, Communications Manager for the New York – Penn Blood Services Region.
“If you’ve ever considered giving blood to help save lives, now is the time to do it,” she added.
All presenting donors at this year’s Blood Drive will receive a $10 voucher to Perks Café, located in the hotel lobby. Donors are encouraged to make an appointment prior to the July 23 Blood Drive. To schedule a time, call 518-581-5774 or visit www.redcrossblood.org.
