WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES MARCH 10, 2022 3
Shops at Atlas Park honored for role in boosting blood donations
BY JULIA MORO
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
The New York Blood Center
(NYBC), state Senator Joseph
Addabbo and Councilman
Robert Holden honored The Shops at
Atlas Park last Friday, Feb. 25, for its
impressive contributions to the blood
supply over the last two years.
The Shops at Atlas Park has provided
its space on various occasions since
the start of the pandemic, hosting multiple
blood drives that have totaled to
5,811 donations and 17,433 lives saved.
The Shops at Atlas Park has been the
designated donation center in Queens
since NYBC does not yet have a space
in the borough.
“We are so thankful to be part of a
community that comes together to support
each other,” said Peter DeLucia,
general manager at The Shops at Atlas
Park. “This award wouldn’t be possible
if not for people generously donating
much-needed blood. Together, we
make our community stronger.”
Earlier this year, NYBC announced
a blood emergency as the blood supply
ran dangerously low. Blood centers
across the county have been struggling
to meet demand needs since the
start of the pandemic in March of 2020.
As NYBC scrambled to get donations,
Senior Executive Director Andrea
Cefarelli at NYBC said The Shops at
Atlas Park stepped up and rose to the
occasion.
“This continued partnership has
helped us get through some of the most
diffi cult moments of the pandemic
and in our organization’s history,”
Cefarelli said. “We are grateful for
their support and that of all our generous
partners. If you are interested
in donating space for blood drives, I
encourage you to visit our website
and sign up.”
Before the pandemic started, there
were 50,000 annual blood donations
made at high schools. But as schools
went remote, and the public became
increasingly scared of contracting
COVID-19, donations dropped by about
25%. Now, there has been about a 10% to
15% increase in blood donations.
At the event to honor leaders of The
Shops at Atlas Park and NYBC, Addabbo
and Holden awarded them with
citations and certifi cates to celebrate
the important work they have done.
“When the COVID-19 pandemic
forced many blood donation sites and
drives to close, Atlas Park was there
and opened their space to New York
Blood Center over the last two years,”
Addabbo said. “It is this continuing
partnership between Atlas Park, New
York Blood Center and the local community
that has allowed us to save so
many lives because the need for blood
is always high. I look forward to cosponsoring
more blood drives with
Atlas Park and to saving more lives.”
Holden also said he is proud to
co-sponsor these blood drives in his
community since there is such an
urgent need.
“There is no substitute for blood and
its lifesaving components,” Holden
said. “I thank the NYBC and The Shops
at Atlas Park for the good work they
do, along with all the New Yorkers who
donate blood and save lives.”
This month, The Shops at Atlas Park
is hosting blood drives scheduled for
March 12, 16, 17 24 and 26. For more
information and to make an appointment
for an upcoming blood drive,
donors can call 800-933-2566 or visit
nybc.org/atlaspark.
State Senator Joseph Addabbo, General Manager Peter DeLucia and
Councilman Robert Holden gather to celebrate blood donations at The
Shops at Atlas Park. Photo provided by New York Blood Center
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