Blood Drive In Soho Will Support Sickle Cell Patients, Raise Awareness For Disease

NEW YORK CITY — New York Blood Center (NYBC) and God’s Love We Deliver will host a community blood drive next week.

The event will be held on Monday, September 14, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at God’s Love We Deliver’s SoHo location, 5th Floor Boardroom.

The blood drive aims to raise awareness of sickle cell disease and highlight the critical role blood donors play in supporting patients who rely on regular transfusions as part of their treatment.

The partnership builds on both organizations’ efforts to improve care for people living with sickle cell disease. God’s Love We Deliver launched its sickle cell program in 2024, combining nutritional support and advocacy to help patients and families manage the physical and nutritional challenges associated with the disease.

NYBC has spent decades advancing research into sickle cell treatment and a potential cure, including work on gene and stem cell therapies, transfusion safety and precisely matched blood products.

Sickle cell disease affects approximately 100,000 people in the United States and millions worldwide.

The inherited disorder causes red blood cells to become sickle-shaped, potentially blocking blood flow and causing severe pain and other complications. Regular blood transfusions are an essential treatment for many patients.

The drive also comes at a critical time for the region’s blood supply, following a challenging summer marked by shortages across the country. Organizers are encouraging New Yorkers—particularly those from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds—to donate. Approximately one in three African American blood donors is a match for a sickle cell patient, underscoring the importance of a diverse donor pool.

The September 14 drive offers New Yorkers an opportunity to help replenish the local blood supply while supporting people with sickle cell disease and others who depend on lifesaving transfusions.

For more information visit nybc.org.