The Golf Coast Regional Blood Center needs to replenish its shelves and with more and more people staying at home, the need for blood donations are as critical as ever.

Blood centers like GCRBC throughout the country are experiencing a significant drop in donations, according to the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), which is limiting the ability for the nation’s blood supply to be adequately replenished.

That’s why Memorial City, in partnership with GCRBC, will host an emergency blood drive on Friday, March 27, from 3 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 28, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Memorial City Mall.

“Businesses are shutting down so we are losing a lot of our mobile drives which is causing our donations to decline,” said Cameron Palmer, the community development coordinator for GCRBC. “We have a low point in our collections and need to make sure we replenish our shelves right now.”

The activity is deemed essential under Harris County’s Stay Home, Work Safe order.

“It is safe to donate blood,” said Admiral Brett P. Giroir, M.D., assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in a news release. “Healthy individuals should schedule an appointment to donate today to ensure that blood is available for those patients who need it.”

In order to practice social distancing while donating, GCRBC is asking everyone to make an appointment online at www.giveblood.org before coming to prevent crowding.

ryan.nickerson@hcnonline.com