State Senator Bill Weber officially launched the Third Annual Five Towns of Rockland Blood Drive Challenge on Monday morning with a press conference at Clarkstown Town Hall, marking the start of a weeklong countywide effort to boost blood donations during the critical summer months.
Held in partnership with the New York Blood Center and Rockland County’s five town supervisors, the annual challenge encourages residents to donate blood while competing in a friendly rivalry to see which town can collect the most donations and recruit the most first-time donors.
Now in its third year, the initiative has already resulted in hundreds of blood donations. Clarkstown has claimed three of the four championship trophies awarded since the competition began, while Orangetown captured the remaining trophy last year.
This year’s challenge runs through Friday, July 31, with two championship trophies up for grabs: one for the town collecting the most blood donations and another for the town bringing in the most first-time donors. To help raise awareness, the Tappan Zee Bridge will be illuminated in red on the opening night of the competition.
The blood drive schedule is as follows:
- Monday, July 27: Clarkstown Town Hall (10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
- Tuesday, July 28: Kirkbride Hall, Stony Point (12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
- Wednesday, July 29: Haverstraw Town Hall (12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
- Thursday, July 30: Orangetown Town Hall (1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.)
- Friday, July 31: Finkelstein Memorial Library in Spring Valley (11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
Residents are encouraged to donate in support of their hometown while helping ensure hospitals across the region have the lifesaving blood supply they need throughout the summer.
