Mariners extend pop-up blood drive, still handing out game tickets to donors
The Seattle Mariners announced last week they were partnering with Bloodworks Northwest to host a pop-up blood drive at T-Mobile Park to help satisfy a rising need for donations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The blood drive, which opened Monday morning, was initially scheduled to run for three weeks, but due to high demand, it has been extended through the end of May.
All of the 555 original donor appointments were filled by Friday, before the drive even opened. The extension creates as many as 880 more potential donation time slots.
“On behalf of the community, thanks to donors for stepping-up to the plate during this COVID-19 crisis to keep our shelves stocked for local patients,” Bloodworks Northwest president and CEO Curt Bailey said in a release Tuesday. “They are all-star donors giving back to the community and saving lives.”
Former Mariners catcher Dan Wilson was among the first to donate Monday at the stadium.
“This is an unprecedented time, but when there is a crisis, our community always comes together,” he said in a release. “Giving blood is something we all can do to help to meet a critical need during this national emergency.
“My wife, Annie, and I are grateful for the opportunity to be able to assist in some small way. My hope is everyone who is able to give blood will sign up to donate at T-Mobile Park or at a Bloodworks center close to home.”
Keeping in line with Gov. Jay Inslee’s social distancing guidelines, participants are required to make one-hour donation appointments online. No walk-ins, guests or people under the age of 16 will be allowed on-site.
Free parking will be provided at the Parking Plaza, which is adjacent to the Mariners Parking Garage at the corner of Edgar Martinez Drive and Occidental Street. The entrance to the blood drive is located on the street level near the third base entry, to the left of the Ken Griffey Jr. statue which is situated at the corner of First Avenue and Edgar Martinez Drive.
The blood drive is open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesdays and from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays. Additional dates and times may be announced.
Bloodworks urges people of all blood types to donate to support not only severely ill COVID-19 patients, but also cancer patients, trauma victims and premature newborns, among others.
“The health of our community depends on donors making blood donation a regular habit,” Bailey said in a release. “Creating this opportunity for people to donate blood at T-Mobile Park is how we keep our community safe. Our community is counting on the best fans in baseball to look after our friends, family, and neighbors by donating blood.”
The Mariners invite their fans to wear team colors when they donate, and each donor will receive two tickets to an upcoming game.
Two of the club’s corporate partners, Pepsi and Hempler’s Foods, will also be on-site to provide refreshments for all donors.
This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 10:34 AM.
