Annunciation parishioners donating blood to help local patients

Parishioners of Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis gathered one week after a shooting left two children dead and 21 other people hurt to donate blood as they work to help area patients. 

The church partnered with Memorial Blood Centers on Wednesday for a blood drive that was mostly focused on donations from parishioners.

In August, officials with the centers said it was operating with just a two-day supply of blood, and a blood shortage was declared. 

However, despite the shortage, a spokesperson said people immediately stepped up and supplied more than 250 units of blood, platelets and plasma to Hennepin Healthcare, Children’s Minnesota, M Health Fairview and North Memorial Health to help the shooting victims and ensure those locations were prepared to treat other patients.

For perspective, each unit can save up to three lives. 

“When crisis strikes and emergencies happen, it’s the blood on the shelf that we have already collected that helps to serve the hospital that we serve,” said Corey Bianchi-Rossi, marketing manager at Memorial Blood Centers.

After the mass shooting on Aug. 27, the centers reported a 400% increase in blood donation appointments. All the donated blood gets tested before being sent to local hospitals, and sometimes as far away as International Falls.

Bianchi-Rossi said only about 3% of the population donates, so anytime it can increase, “it makes a huge impact.” 

On Wednesday morning, WCCO spoke with donor Justin Nuahn, the centers’ human resources director. Nuahn has also been an Annunciation parishioner for two decades.

“I’m fortunate enough to work for Memorial Blood Centers and so I get to see the good that blood collection does. And you know, for me, it’s something where you get to give back,” Nuahn said. “It’s a humble and selfless act and I think a lot of people right now are just searching for, ‘what can I do?’ And you know, Annunciation believes in service, and this is a way for us to serve our community.”

Anyone looking to donate blood can set up an appointment on Memorial Blood Centers’ website. It has seven locations across the Twin Cities. Walk-ins are welcome, but setting up an appointment online is the preferred method.