The New York Blood Center is in critical need of blood donations, specifically O-negative and O-positive.
The Amityville Fire Department and Better IT Now hosted a drive Wednesday afternoon to help get their numbers up.
“The supply of blood is about 2% that they have in the banks,” said Dean Bossert, one of the organizers. “They need to be at 4%. Doesn't sound like a big difference. But when you take into account the 20 million population in New York, it's about 400,000 pints that they're short on.”
Organizers say it can take less than 30 minutes of one's day to help save someone’s life. Each pint of blood donated can help save three lives.
“We just wish that everybody can take a little bit of time out, come donate blood, and help your community,” said Carol Gosline, chairman of the blood drive. “It could be you who needs it one day.”
The Amityville Fire Department does a blood drive every April and October.
For a full list of other places you can donate, visit the New York Blood Center website at
nybc.org.