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CommuniCare will host a blood drive at the Moundsville Healthcare Center, pictured here, on Jan. 31. (Photo Provided)

The Moundsville Healthcare Center will host a blood drive on Friday, Jan. 31 with the goal of collecting 18 units of blood to support the American Red Cross.

All blood types are needed for the drive, which will be held at the nursing home’s dining room at 2200 Floral St. in Moundsville from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Donors can contact the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org and search “MoundViewHC” to schedule an appointment for the drive. Samantha Walters, Director of Public Relations for CommuniCare, said appointments will run in 15-minute increments during the drive, with walk-ins also allowed.

Walters recommends those interested in donating at the drive schedule an appointment so the organization can get a headcount for donations and so donors do not have to wait during the drive.

“Setting up that appointment allows a donor to go in, do it on their time and then go about their day,” Walters said.

The drive’s goal is to collect 18 units of blood, which Walters said could serve 54 people in need of blood. Walters noted that a resident’s donation at the drive could directly help their neighbor “without the donor even realizing.”

Walters said that donors of any blood type will benefit the local blood supply, with types O, B-negative and A-negative being particularly beneficial, as they can make Power Red donations with the American Red Cross. Power Red donations allow a donor to safely donate two units of red blood cells during one donation.

“There’s different types of blood that are really rare, and when you have that type of blood and are available to make donations, you could be really helping out your neighbor,” Walters said. “If you have a rare type of blood and you’re willing and able to donate, it’s always very appreciated.”

Walters added that keeping a full local blood supply can be beneficial when national events, such as the greater Los Angeles wildfires, create an urgent need for blood in the country.

January is also National Blood Donor Month, which Walters hopes will help the upcoming drive exceed its goal. She noted that a “couple of donors” had already signed up for the drive.

“We wanted to kick off January with drives since this is National Blood Donor Month, and we started having these conversations about how to get more donors before all the things started happening out west,” Walters said. “There’s always a need when it comes to blood donors. These blood drives can help all communities, so we’re fortunate that our drive is hitting at a time of great need.”

Walters added that after the COVID-19 pandemic, donors had become “a little gun-shy” and were less likely to support local blood drives. She noted that since the Moundsville community had been supportive of past drives, she hoped for good turnout for the upcoming drive.

“When I spoke with our representative with the American Red Cross [American Red Cross Donor Recruiter Phyllis Riccadonna], she was super excited about hosting a Moundsville blood drive because it had a lot of success in the past,” Walters said. “The community is so tight-knit and close communities all want to support their neighbors.”

In addition to Moundsville, CommuniCare will host a blood drive at the Follansbee Community House on Feb. 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. CommuniCare is also finalizing the details for a blood drive to be held in Cameron on March 5 at the American Legion Annex/Community Center building.