Shoreline & LFP weekend Blood Drives bring outpouring of support for bus crash victims

By Tom Petersen

Last week's Aurora Bridge disaster sent three dozen people to area hospitals, many with severe injuries requiring massive blood transfusions. Reserves were depleted and supplies of some blood types dipped to critical levels.

Bloodworks Northwest made an urgent call for donors, and the response was overwhelming throughout the region. Lake Forest Park and Shoreline made a substantial contribution, with large turnouts at the Shoreline Masonic Lodge and at Lake Forest Park Town Center on Saturday.

At the latter event in LFP, in fact, they "maxed," receiving all the donors the mobile unit was equipped to handle, such that walk-ups were being referred to the donor centers or other drives.

The results:

Shoreline Masonic Lodge

Registered donors – 47

First time donors – 7

Units collected – 42

Lake Forest Park Town Center

Registered donors – 41

First time donors – 13

Units collected – 35

Both drives attracted a large number of first-time donors, along with many people who were eligible and available after the unforeseen cancellation of the Richmond Beach event at the end of August. 

People still wishing to donate blood are encouraged to go to BloodworksNW and look for upcoming drives; the next in the area is in Kenmore, Tuesday, September 29, at Northlake Lutheran Church, from 1-7pm.

Donor Centers are in Lynnwood, at the southeast corner of the intersection of Aurora and 196th, and at 10357 Stone Ave N in North Seattle.