The New York Islanders and New York Blood Center partnered for a blood drive at UBS Arena on Aug. 3, giving Elmont residents and other community members an opportunity to help address a critical shortage in the region’s blood supply.
The drive, held from 1:30 to 6 p.m. in the Acrisure Great Hall, came as the New York Blood Center faced its second blood emergency of the summer. The organization said the regional blood supply had fallen to its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic amid extreme heat, severe storms, power outages and storm cleanup efforts.
As an incentive, donors received a voucher for two tickets to a select Islanders home game during the 2026-27 regular season, with exclusions applying.
The Islanders have hosted 26 blood drives with the New York Blood Center since 2000, collecting 3,322 donations.
The blood center encouraged eligible residents to continue donating, noting that one donation can help save multiple lives. Blood is needed for cancer patients, trauma victims, surgery patients, newborns and their mothers, transplant recipients and people with conditions requiring regular transfusions.