The annual community event highlights the importance of African American blood donors for collecting a larger supply of Type O blood and fighting sickle cell disease.
Loretto Hospital hosted its fourth annual blood drive on Friday, July 17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the sixth floor of the hospital, welcoming donors from Chicago's Austin community and surrounding neighborhoods. The event was presented in collaboration with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (Nu Pi Chapter) and Versiti Blood Center of Illinois.
The blood drive sought to address a critical and ongoing need for blood donations within the African American community. One in three African American blood donors is a match for patients with sickle cell disease. This is a profound statistic that underscores the life-saving role Black donors play. Additionally, 51% of African Americans have Type O blood, compared to 45% of Caucasians, making their donations especially vital to maintaining an adequate blood supply for patients across Chicago.