NYBC and the MTA MNR have collected a total of 3,600 blood donations over more than a decade of their partnership, saving the lives of thousands of New Yorkers
NEW YORK, NY – New York Blood Center (NYBC) and the MTA Metro-North Railroad hosted their 13th annual blood drive on Thursday, May 8th from 9:00am to 6:00pm in Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal. All blood donors at this blood drive received a voucher for two tickets to a select 2025 New York Mets home game.
The MTA Metro-North Railroad has been a longtime supporter and partner of NYBC, hosting blood drives every year and collecting a total of 3,600 donations over more than a decade, with this 2025 blood drive collecting 423 donations alone. NYBC recently issued an urgent call for type O+ and O- blood donations. The current supply of O- blood has dropped to just two days, and overall collections are nearly 20% below the level needed to meet hospital demands. This drop in donations is due to seasonal factors such as school breaks, holiday travel, and busy spring schedules.
“We’re grateful to the MTA Metro North Railroad who work tirelessly every day to keep New York City moving and have been essential partners to New York Blood Center in helping us keep up with the region’s demand for blood,” said Andrea Cefarelli, Senior Vice President at New York Blood Center. “This time of year is critical for blood collection – as we work to build our inventory before the summer months when we typically see fewer blood donors. We hope that partnerships like this will help encourage the local residents, MTA employees and commuters to make an appointment to donate today!”
Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted several blood donor eligibility restrictions. To view current eligibility guidelines, visit nybc.org or call 800.688.0900.
To make an appointment, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit nybc.org. Can’t donate blood? You can still make a lifesaving impact by supporting NYBC’s mission through financial contributions or volunteering your time. Learn more about how you can help.
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About New York Blood Center
Founded in 1964, New York Blood Center (NYBC) has served the tri-state area for more than 60 years, delivering 500,000 lifesaving blood products annually to 150+ hospitals, EMS and healthcare partners. NYBC is part of New York Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCe), which spans 17+ states and delivers one million blood products to 400+ U.S. hospitals annually. NYBCe additionally delivers cellular therapies, specialty pharmacy, and medical services to 200+ research, academic and biopharmaceutical organizations. NYBCe’s Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute is a leader in hematology and transfusion medicine research, dedicated to the study, prevention, treatment and cure of bloodborne and blood-related diseases. NYBC serves as a vital community lifeline dedicated to helping patients and advancing global public health. To learn more, visit nybc.org. Connect with us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.