Annunciation Church community honors victims with blood donations
Annunciation Church community donates blood to honor victims
Memorial Blood Center buses set up shop at Annunciation Catholic Church for a blood drive to honor the mass shooting victims. FOX 9's Leon Purvis has the latest report.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Annunciation Church and School shooting left many wondering what can be done to help, leading some to donate blood.
Honoring Annunciation shooting victims
Annunciation Church parishioners donate blood
With blood supply in Minnesota dangerously low, church parishioners are partnering with Memorial Blood Center to meet the demand after the Annunciation mass shooting. FOX 9's Leon Purvis has the latest report.
Big picture view:
While donations are up 400% since the Annunciation mass shooting, the blood supply is currently dangerously low in Minnesota.
In honor of the victims, Memorial Blood Centers set up its buses near Annunciation Church for members and families to donate.
The donations will be allocated to where the need is greatest. Right now, the need for blood in Minnesota is high, especially for O-negative and O-positive.
"August 11th, we declared a blood emergency because our inventory of blood got to about a two-day level. We like to be around a five to seven-day level of inventory on the shelves," said Memorial Blood Centers Marketing Manager Corey Bianchi-Rossi.
Parishioners donate blood
What they're saying:
"I felt strongly about giving blood to help out these victims," said Christeen Paulison from Tonka Bay.
Paulison decided to donate blood for the very first time. That’s why she came with two friends to give blood. They are three of 60 appointments that were booked.
When the shooting took place, Memorial Blood Centers shipped more than 250 units of blood to local hospitals. Many church members who are regular donors wanted to do their part.
"I just wanted to be here because I couldn't do anything last week," said Mason Knooihuizen.
Mason Knooihuizen goes to Annunciation church with his grandma and said news of the school shooting sunk him. That’s why he’s donating to a cause that has a special place in his heart.
"I just love seeing how this community comes together and just how we can be stronger together after tragedy," said Knooihuizen.