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Community Corner

Give Sandy Victims Something More than Candy this Halloween, Donate Blood

There is a shortage of blood donations due to Hurricane Sandy, and you can help this Halloween.

Scary monsters and pretty princesses can donate blood to the American Red Cross, to help Hurricane Sandy victims at Dumbarton House at 2715 Q St., NW from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. today.

Donors are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. Candy will be offered to donors to perk up their spirits and donors will be given free admission to the Dumbarton House museum. 

Initially after Hurricane Sandy, Bridgitte Rodguez, Dumbarton House membership manager, wondered if the American Red Cross would still want to hold the blood drive at Dumbarton House. She found that the hurricane made the blood drive even more necessary.

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Over 300 American Red Cross blood drives were recently canceled due to Hurricane Sandy, which has caused a shortage of over 9,000 blood and platelet donations, according to a Red Cross statement made yesterday. As power continues to remain out in certain areas affected by Sandy, the number of needed donations is expected to rise.

“The hurricane did not cancel the blood drive, if anything it made it more necessary,” said Rodguez.

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Donors must be 17-years-old and 110 pounds. Additional restrictions apply to donors 18 and younger and high school student.

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