Every year, the American Red Cross traditionally
struggles to keep up with the need for blood in June due to vacations, schools being out of session and other summer disruptions to their regular blood donors’ schedules. The Mayor’s Cup Blood Drive is a friendly 20 year old competition that encourages local government employees to donate blood and raise awareness about the constant need for blood, especially during the summer. Newport News competes each year with Chesapeake, Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, Isle of Wight, Franklin and Poquoson to win the Mayor’s Cup. The winner is determined by the number of donations as a percentage of the total employees at each locality. Newport News finished 3rd last year, with 4.9% of employees donating.
In addition to the Mayor’s Cup Blood Drive, the Red Cross urges eligible donors to donate blood now to help maintain the blood supply around the Independence Day holiday.
Although blood donations often decline during the summer months, the need for blood is constant for patients. The need for blood doesn’t decrease – every two seconds, someone in the U.S. requires blood or platelets. It takes up to 50 units of blood to save a life from gun violence. Donors of all blood types are needed now. Donating one pint of blood can help save up to three lives!
Schedule an appointment to give blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting
www.redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Newport News Mayor’s Cup Blood Drives – Open to the Public
• Thursday, June 15, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Public Works Annex, 513 Oyster Point Road
• Tuesday, June 20
o 8:00 – 10:45 a.m., Fire Station 6, 685 Oyster Point Road
o 1:15 – 4:15 p.m., City Center Building, 700 Town Center Drive
o 3:00 – 7:00 p.m., Denbigh Community Center, 15198 Warwick Boulevard
• Thursday, June 22, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., City Hall, 2400 Washington Avenue