May 6, 2011

QUEENS VILLAGE, NY – The New York Buddhist Vihara Temple will host a community blood drive on Saturday, May 14, 2011. Healthy individuals are encouraged to donate blood between the hours of 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM at 214-22 Spencer Avenue, Queens Village, NY 11427.

The month of May marks the onset of the Vesak celebration, which observes the three major events in the life of the Buddha: his birth, Enlightenment and passing away on the full moon. It is the most important festival in the Buddhist lunar calendar. The use of lighting such as candles and lamps symbolize how Buddha showed people how to become enlightened.

The New York Buddhist Vihara Temple is holding its blood drive to coincide with the Vesak celebration because one way you can help your community is by donating blood. Every two seconds, someone needs blood, and the only way to obtain this precious resource is from volunteer blood donors. Hospital use of blood products remains high – due to surgeries, emergencies and care of cancer patients.

People can safely donate blood every 56 days and can donate platelets every three days, up to 24 times each year. If you're not already a blood donor, please consider becoming one. Giving blood once or twice a year, or donating together with a friend is a great way to start. If you are unable to give, please ask someone to donate for you.

To donate blood or platelets or for information on how to organize a blood drive, Please call Toll Free: 1-800-933-2566 Visit: http://www.nybloodcenter.org

Any company, community organization, place of worship, or individual may host a blood drive. NYBC also offers special community service scholarships for students who organize community blood drives during summer and winter months. Blood donors receive free mini-medical exams on site including information about their temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure and hemoglobin level. Eligible donors include those people at least age 16 (with parental permission or consent), who weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, are in good health and meet all Food & Drug Administration and NY or NJ State Department of Health donor criteria. People over 75 may donate with a doctor's note.

About New York Blood Center: New York Blood Center (NYBC) is one of the nation's largest non-profit, community-based blood centers. NYBC has been providing blood, transfusion products and services to hospitals since 1964, serving more than 20 million people in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, New Jersey, and parts of Connecticut and Pennsylvania. NYBC is also home to the Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute and the National Cord Blood Program at the Howard P. Milstein National Cord Blood Center, the world's largest public cord blood bank. NYBC provides medical services and programs (Clinical, Transfusion, and Hemophilia Services) through our medical professionals along with consultative services in transfusion medicine. Please visit us on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/newyorkbloodcenter. Follow us on Twitter: @NYBloodCenter.

New York Blood Center and The New York Buddhist Vihara Temple of Queens