Community Blood Services
By giving blood through Unyts you are making sure that your family, friends, neighbors and other members of your community have blood available when they need it. Take the time to donate blood. Make a difference in someone’s life.
Our Fixed Sites:
To schedule your appointment call 512-7940 or stop in.
**Please note our fixed sites may have adjusted hours during holidays *
DeGraff Neighborhood Blood Donation Center
445 Tremont Street
North Tonawanda, NY 14120
Mon. & Thurs. 10:30am-6pm
Tues. 10:30am - 8pm
1st & 3rd Sat. 7am - 2pm
*Whole Blood and Platelets Collected Here!*
Unyts Neighborhood Donation Center
110 Broadway
Buffalo, NY 14203
Tues. 10am -3pm
*Whole Blood and Platelets Collected Here!*
Southgate Neighborhood Blood Donation Center
1000 Union Rd.
West Seneca, NY 14224
Mon. & Wed. 10am -8pm
Fri. 7am - 2pm
2nd & 4th Sat. 7am - 3pm
*Whole Blood and Platelets Collected Here!*
Eastern Hills Mall Neighborhood Donation Center
4545 Transit Rd.
Williamsville, NY 14221
Mon. & Fri. 11am - 5pm
Wed. 4pm - 8pm
Sat. 10am - 3pm
*Whole Blood and Platelets Collected Here!*
(Click image to view our Right Type brochure)
Donate the Right Type for Your Type
Whatever type of donation you choose, you save lives. Based on your blood type, personal characteristics and, often, where the need is greatest, you can ensure that you make the most of your valuable gift of blood. While a whole blood donation can be made every 56 days, you also can donate just one part of your blood—red blood cells or platelets—and provide even more of the life-saving gifts patients need.
Whole Blood Donation
What is Whole Blood?
Your blood contains a mixture of several components, including red blood cells, platelets, white blood cells and plasma. During whole blood donation, donors typically donate a pint of the mixture.
Who Needs it?
The very young, from the tiniest of preemies in a hospital’s neonatal unit, to an elderly patient suffering from a blood disorder, all benefit from blood’s life-sustaining qualities.
Why Give it?
A Whole Blood Donation can be made every 56 days, and with each donation you are potentially saving the lives of up to three patients.
Pints for Half-Pints
Every week, between 15 and 20 blood donors are needed for babies at Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. The hospital continually requires fresh blood and platelet donations for children experiencing surgery for cancer, trauma or burns.
Blood used for children is different than blood used for adult patients and can pose availability challenges. Blood used for babies must meet two main criteria:
1. The blood must be less than five days old, which creates a continual, ongoing need, particularly during weekends and holidays when fewer people tend to donate.
2. O donors are preferred for baby blood donation, and CMV negative donors are required for infants. Only 20% of the U.S. population is CMV negative.
To better supply babies in need of blood, Upstate New York Transplant Services is asking O donors to participate in the Pints for Half-Pints program and commit to donating at least three times per year.
Platelet Donation
What are Platelets?
Platelets are the cells in your blood that begin the clotting process.
Who Needs it?
Platelets are needed by leukemia and cancer patients, those undergoing cardiac surgery, burn victims and people with bleeding disorders. Approximately 12 million units of platelets are transfused in the United States each year.
Why Give it?
Platelets have a very short life span and can only be stored for five days after donation. Due to this, there is a constant need for donors.
The platelets you donate are usually replaced within approximately 24 hours. Consequently, you can donate every two weeks. Platelet donation takes approximately two hours.
Types Most Needed: A+, B+, AB+
Double Red Cell Donation
What are Red Cells?
Red Blood Cells are the part of your body that carries oxygen to your organs and tissue and removes waste.
Who Needs it?
Red blood cells are the most needed blood component. Approximately 14 million units are transfused every year in the United States. They are often the difference between life and death for trauma victims and those undergoing surgery. People with anemia, low hematocrit levels due to Cancer or kidney diseases, and sickle cell disease also need red blood cells.
Why Give it?
More lives will be saved because two units can be safely collected at one donation. A Double Red Cell donation typically takes about 60 minutes and can be done every 112 days. Three annual donations will provide the same number of life-saving red cell transfusions as six visits.
Types Most Needed:O+, O-, A-, B-
(Click the image to view our Double Red Donation flyer)
To learn of upcoming community drives, click here.
To sponsor a blood drive in your community, click here.
To schedule an appointment to donate blood, call 716.512.7940 or email donateblood@unyts.org.
To take the "Post-Blood Donation Customer Survey", click here.
To learn about our Pints for Half-Pints Program for Women & Children's Hospital, click here
To download the "Your Blood Donation" brochure, click here. (PDF)
To download a 16-year-old Consent Form, click here. (PDF)
To view our full page ad in The Buffalo News, click here. (PDF)
58 Facts About Blood Donation (PDF)
