If someone told you that you could save a life, through nothing more than a minor
inconvenience on your part, would you do it?
Most of us would answer "yes" to this hypothetical question without hesitation. But what
if that opportunity was real, and happening right here at Town Hall in Clarkstown on
Monday, July 27, 2026? Would you step up and give someone the gift of life?
I’m happy to say that this opportunity is real and available through Senator Bill Weber’s
2026 Five Towns Of Rockland Blood Drive Challenge. The Town of Clarkstown is
asking residents to roll up their sleeves and help make a tremendous difference for
someone in need. Every pint of blood donated has the potential to save up to three
lives. Whether it's a child battling cancer, a trauma victim rushed into surgery, someone
undergoing a complicated medical procedure, or a patient living with a chronic blood
disorder, your donation could be the lifeline they desperately need.
It is estimated that 4.5 million lives are saved each year through this simple act of
giving. Blood cannot be manufactured in a laboratory. It can’t be ordered from a
warehouse or produced by a machine. It comes only from generous, caring people
willing to spend about an hour of their day to help someone they will probably never
meet. Most donors are finished in less than an hour, with the actual donation taking only
about ten minutes. The temporary inconvenience is minimal, but the impact can last a
lifetime for someone whose life depends on these donations.
Blood collected from this drive will go to the New York Blood Center, a highly esteemed
organization whose donation program delivers hundreds of thousands of life-saving
blood products to nearly 200 hospitals in the tri-state region each year. If you've
donated before, you know how rewarding it feels to give the gift of life. If you've never
donated, this is the perfect opportunity to start. I think you’ll discover this simple act of
kindness becomes one of the most meaningful things you will do all year.
The “Five Towns Challenge” presents awards in two categories: the town that donates
the most blood units and the town that generates the highest number of new donors. I’m
proud to say that Clarkstown won both contests in 2024, and the most new donors
award in 2025. Please donate and help us take both awards home again in 2026.
Bragging rights are great, but the real victory will belong to every patient whose life is
saved because someone like you decided to give the gift of life.
So the question remains: If someone told you that you could save a life, through only a
minor inconvenience on your part, would you do it?
Please answer “yes” by registering today and donating blood on July 27th in Room 301
at Town Hall. Appointments are available between 10:00am and 4:00pm. Registration
can be completed online by visiting one of these sites: clarkstown.gov
www.weber.nysenate.gov or nybc.org and search for the Town of Clarkstown drive.
