Blood Drive at Muslim Unity Center Bloomfield

By Adil James
TMO Staff Writer

Farmington–December 6–Area Muslims are doing their best to do good, therefore participating in many efforts to benefit the wider community.

And so Bloomfield’s Muslim Unity Center conducted a successful blood drive in conjunction with the regional office of the Red Cross this Saturday afternoon from 10AM to 4PM, collecting approximately 45 units of blood.

This blood drive was the second held at the center, although the previous one was five years ago.

Kelley DeLong, the Red Cross’s district representative for Southeast Michigan, said that “This was an especially successful” blood drive, and commented of the young volunteers from the Center that “the girls worked hard.”

Maya Al-Saghir, one of the volunteers, said “Alhamdulillah there was a great turnout–our goal was 30 units, and we expect to get 45 pints. The Red Cross saves three lives with each pint.”

There are many common exclusions that prevent people giving blood, the main ones are travel, medications, and for women low hemoglobin.  38% of people can give blood, according to DeLong, however only 3% do.

You can give blood from the time you are age 16 until you are very old, and in fact Ms. DeLong spoke of her 80-year-old father giving blood.  “Actually, it’s good for you.”
The Red Cross had seven employees at the event, and the Unity Center had about 6 volunteers who helped.

(PHOTO: l-r front row:  Unity Center volunteers Maya Al-Saghir, Ila Sayed, and Tala Saghir. Behind them, Red Cross nurse Kathy Hellen)