NANTUCKET – Back by popular demand and a never-quit spirt, the Nantucket annual blood drive collected 348 units of blood in early June, far surpassing last year’s total and continuing the growth of the effort that began two years ago.
During the two-day drive, the partnership with the Nantucket Saves organization enabled a blood drive that exceeded every expectation.
“Everyone was blown away,” said Tom McCann with Nantucket Saves. “There’s a continual, never-ending shortage of blood,” he said. “The Red Cross needs it. That’s why this is such an important event.”
The 2025 drive collected 265 units after the first Nantucket blood drive in decades collected 77 units at the VFW in October 2024.
Organizers said the amount collected matters because blood supplies are constantly being used and need to be replenished. The donations can go to patients with cancer, people undergoing surgery and others facing medical emergencies, he said.
Nantucket posed challenges for blood collection, beyond being an island 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod. Lyme disease is common in all of New England, and has led to deferrals for area blood donors. Better treatments for Babesiosis and Lyme disease, and a public awareness campaign has brought donors back and helped new donors understand risks.
Individuals who have been deferred in the past can initiate donor reinstatement by contacting the Red Cross Donor and Client Support Center at 1-866-236-3276. Individuals with questions about their donation eligibility can contact the Red Cross Donor and Client Support Center at 1-866-236-3276.
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