On Sunday, January 17, 2021, the International WeLoveU Foundation hosted the largest single-day blood drive in Los Angeles, California, at the Banc of California Stadium in partnership with WSS, LifeStream Blood Bank, Pizza Hut, Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), and Exposition Park. The blood drive is part of WeLoveU’s National Blood Drive campaign.
LifeStream Blood Bank Site Visit
Severe blood shortages are one of the many consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. WeLoveU’s partner, LifeStream Blood Bank, supplies more than 80 hospitals in the Southern California region. Yet, they had to cancel scheduled blood drives, resulting in shortages of donated blood supply. Previously, the WeLoveU Foundation hosted the largest blood drive in the Inland Empire with LifeStream Blood Bank.
Mr. Flores from the WeLoveU Foundation visits LifeStream Blood Bank and sees the blood supply firsthand.
The Steps Taken to Ensure Safe Blood Donations
To hold the blood drive at the Banc of California Stadium, WeLoveU met the Los Angeles County Health Officer’s required protocols and the CDC guidelines for events and gatherings. Extra safety measures included reducing the capacity and pre-registering donors, and scheduling all donations, so donors only come at their scheduled times.
Donation zones and buses were spread out across the venue’s terrace and parking lot. After a donor donated blood, the station was disinfected with hospital-grade sanitizer. The partners, donors, and volunteers’ safety was a top priority while planning the blood drive.
“Because of the pandemic, people are concerned, but this place is extremely safe,” affirmed Hector Flores from the WeLoveU Foundation. “The FDA considers this event not as a social gathering, but a life-saving event, and we’re following the CDC guidelines.”
News about the Los Angeles blood drive spread quickly days prior and on the day of the drive. The WeLoveU Foundation was interviewed in English and Spanish by various mainstream news channels such as KTLA, FOX, CBS, Telemundo, Univision, and local radio broadcasting stations.
The Big Day!
On January 17, hundreds of donors arrived at the Banc of California Stadium at their scheduled times. Each person was pre-screened for symptoms of COVID-19 and had their temperature checked before entering the parking lot.
Once on-site, donors donned their face masks, sanitized their hands, and followed physical distance guidelines. While waiting to donate blood, they watched the blood drive’s live stream with recorded performances. After donating blood, donors replenished themselves with a variety of snacks and drinks. Volunteers were placed in donor stations to check in on donors to make sure they felt okay before leaving the event.
Live stream hosts entertain donors watching online while waiting to donate.
Some brave donors included Los Angeles natives who watched the event on TV, a police officer driving by the venue, news reporters and camera operators covering the event, and 236 first-time donors. Other donors drove several hours from San Francisco, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Special Guests Support the Los Angeles Blood Drive
Also, special guests attended in support of the cause. Guests included retired Los Angeles Laker Metta Sandisford-Artest, California State Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, and City of Maywood Mayor Ricardo Lara.
CA State Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer Mayor Ricardo Lara
“This is the second time I’ve donated blood, and it’s always a good thing to do. WeLoveU and WSS have invited me here. It’s always a great opportunity to be a part of something good,” expressed Metta Sandiford-Artest. “Each pint of blood is going to save three lives, and when I heard that, it just made me want to come out and donate blood.”
Mr. Metta Sandiford-Artest
In total, more than 600 pints of blood were collected. The units of blood will help save nearly 2,000 lives. The WeLoveU Foundation will stop at nothing to fulfill its ongoing mission to support its neighbors during the most critical times.