Pascagoula Blood Drive

Blood Drives are important now more than ever.

If you're looking for a way to- help out your community - during these trying times, look- no further than the blood - center.

- news 25's grace boyles has our- report from jackson county.

- - one of the many impacts of the- covid-19 pandemic in the medica- field has been the blood supply- at hospitals.

- seeing this need in their own - community, the pascagoula - rotary club and the singing - river health system teamed up t- help put on a blood drive.- melissa schnoor, community- health manager at singing river- health system:- "there is a shortage of blood.

Of course, because of covid.

So- we are trying to do - what we can do to help with the- shortage.

As you know, surgerie- have- started, but we don't have the- blood.

So we're doing everythin- we can and partner- with the community to get them- the blood that they need."

And the community is eager to - help.

- jennifer garlich, pascagoula- rotary club: "you know, people want to do- stuff.

I mean, it's not just- rotarians that are people of- action, everybody wants to do - stuff to help.

And this is- something you can do.

This is a- action you can take that you- can feel good about and makes a- impact on lots of lives, not- just one life, but many - lives."

Grace boyles, news 25: "now whe you donate blood you're not onl- helping - someone who is in need of blood- you're also able to get free- covid-19 antibodies - testing."

Melissa schnoor, community- health manager at singing river- - - - health system: "exciting news i that today and yesterday that - started testing for antibody fo- the virus.- so you cna get that now if you- - - - donate blood."

Within 48 hours of successfully giving blood, - you can log into- your blood center account and - see the results of your - antibody test.- unsure of the importance of you- antibody results?

Here's- why they matter.- melissa schnoor, community- health manager at singing river- health system:- "they will know that they've been immune to it or they've ha- it.

So, it is also helping- with all the research to- determine of you will get it- again and help with the vaccine- so, it- is very important information t- have."

- - - to ensure the health and safety- of all donors, the- blood center asks for you to go- to w-w-w dot the blood- center dot org to sign-up for a- appointment to donate.- in pascagoula, grace boyles,- news 25.- - toni miles, news 25: "i'm toni miles.- coming up on news