The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh is responding to the need for blood donations during the covid-19 outbreak by holding nine blood drives at its Squirrel Hill and South Hills locations in the coming weeks.

The blood drives will be held in cooperation with Vitalant Pittsburgh, formerly known locally as the Central Blood Bank.

The JCC Squirrel Hill, located at 5738 Darlington Road in Pittsburgh, and the JCC South Hills, located at 345 Kane Boulevard in Scott, will both be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays starting March 25 through April 10 for blood donations.

Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be made online at www.vitalant.org, through the Vitalant-Pittsburgh mobile app or by calling 1-877-25-VITAL.

Vitalant, which operates a network of 127 donation centers nationwide, is urging people to donate blood during the covid-19 outbreak in order to avoid a potential shortage in the nation’s blood supply, according to a statement posted to the organization’s website.

The American Red Cross is also reporting a blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations during the covid-19 outbreak.

Blood drives held by schools, religious institutions and community groups — which are all suspending operations due to the covid-19 outbreak — represent more than 60% of the nation’s blood supply, according to Vitalant.

Anyone who feels sicks should not donate blood, and Vitalant does not test for covid-19, the statement said.

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