Mark the Date: Blood Drive at Good Sam Sept. 30

Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip will be hosting a blood drive on Monday, September 30 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Registration will be the day of the event and held in the hospital's Patio Cafe location.

In addition, New York Blood Center mobile units will be available in the main, front parking lot for the convenience of donors. 

Each donation of blood can help save up to three lives. 

The 2014 Super Bowl Host Committee has partnered with the New York Blood Center to help increase blood donations leading up to Super Bowl XLVIII. 

All successful donors between now and January 7  will be entered into a sweepstakes for one pair of tickets to Super Bowl XLVIII at Met Life Stadium in New Jersey. The more you donate, the more times you will be entered.

Each time you save lives by making a blood, platelet or plasma donation you earn Advantage points redeemable for a wide variety of gifts, gift cards or New York Blood Center branded merchandise. You can even donate your points to selected charitable organizations. For more information visit www.mydonoradvantage.com or call 1-800-933-2566.

Nearly everyone between the ages of 17 (16 with parents' written permission) and 75 meet all donor eligibility requirements. Donors must weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good health. Each participant should bring valid identification. 

Sixty percent of Americans are eligible to donate blood, but, unfortunately on average only five percent of Americans do so. Blood products are perishable and need to be replenished often. People can safely donate blood every 8 weeks. Good Samaritan Hospital hosts several blood drives each year, providing donors with multiple opportunities to help save a life.  

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (631) 376-4444.