Annual Blood Drive

WHEREAS, the local branch of the NAACP is the backbone of their community, the State Conference and the national organization; and

WHEREAS, people are generally living longer, and the need for blood products are increasing and there is no substitutes for blood; and

WHEREAS, on a national basis the level of donors should be increased to ensure adequate blood supplies, especially in the months of January and July, when blood supplies reach dangerously low levels; and

WHEREAS, many people have to be educated that giving blood is safe; disposable equipment is used, blood is laboratory tested before transfusion and the instances of hepatitis that were prevalent in the 1960's do not exist today; and

WHEREAS, during the 1998/99 blood donor campaign in the northeast region, 136,616 pints of blood were collected, and the total donated by the African American, Asian and Hispanic population was 3,610, which is less than three percent (3%) of the total donations for this region; and

WHEREAS, it is vital to concentrate on these populations in order to increase the number of blood donors.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the local branch collaborate with their local blood service and sponsor an ANNUAL BLOOD DRIVE to encourage African American and all other ethnic donors to donate every two-to-three months; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that guidelines be drawn for distribution to the NAACP Branches' Health Committee for implementation for a successful blood drive at regional, state and national conferences.