The community blood drive to be held by the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute or GRAAHI will be in honor of health and civic leaders.
January is National Blood Donor month and a news release says GRAAHI is marking the month by following in the footsteps of two noted heroes: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dr. Charles Richard Drew. The agency will hold a blood drive at Brown-Hutcherson Ministries in Grand Rapids.
While the work of Dr. King is well documented, GRAAHI officials say many people are unaware of Dr. Drew’s impact. He laid the groundwork for today’s modern blood donation program. Under his leadership, the American Red Cross blood bank program began in 1940, and Dr. Drew became the organization’s first medical director in 1941.
Vanessa Greene, CEO of GRAAHI says quote, “He was a surgeon, educator, scientist and the first African-American blood specialist who helped shape the blood services industry,” she adds, “His legacy is far-reaching. We hope this drive helps educate the community about his work and the need for a diverse blood supply.”
The news release also says because blood type is inherited, a compatible donor is often someone of a similar ethnic background. Therefore, diversity in donations is important for improved patient outcomes, as rare and uncommon blood types are often found in similar ethnic populations.
The blood drive will be held Saturday, January 21st from 9:30 to 1:30 at Brown Hutcherson Ministries.
You can find more info at GRAAHI.COM/GIVEBLOOD.
