Senator Murphy Answers Texas' Call for Help: Sponsors Blood Drive at New Castle Town Hall

Chappaqua, NY - Harvey, the most powerful hurricane to strike Texas in more than 50 years, has dumped 11 trillion gallons of rain over the state with the worst of the storm yet to come. Like all of us, Senator Terrence Murphy is deeply concerned with the health and welfare of the citizens of Texas as they battle to survive historic flooding that has already left millions homeless.
 
At a time when survival is a challenge and critically needed emergency services are crippled, Senator Murphy is reaching out to help citizens in Texas and the Gulf Coast by hosting a blood drive. The blood drive, sponsored in conjunction with the Town of New Castle and the New York Blood Center, will be held Wednesday, August 30 at the New Castle Town Hall, 200 South Greeley Avenue in Chappaqua from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Portions of the donations collected at Wednesday's blood drive will be shared with people in the Gulf Coast affected by the hurricane.
 
"The toll that Hurricane Harvey is taking on the people of Texas is staggering. There are thousands of people in Houston and the surrounding areas who have been displaced or sadly, injured by this historic storm. Blood collections have been suspended in Houston. The Gulf Coast is in need of blood products to sustain their operations," said Senator Murphy. "We have the ability to reach out and help hospitals and families in the time of an emergency. I am proud to sponsor this blood drive and encourage everyone who is eligible to think about the people affected by Hurricane Harvey and donate blood."

New Castle Supervisor Rob Greenstein stated, "I am extremely proud to be partnering with Senator Terrance Murphy on this blood drive.  I look forward to bringing the community together to help save lives."

"It is important to not only help maintain blood supplies in New York, but to help residents dealing with the devastation in the Gulf Coast," said New Castle Councilman Adam Brodsky,  New Castle's Town Deputy Supervisor. "Disasters and accidents happen every day, and because of the Hurricane, the need for blood is even more essential. This blood drive can help a lot of people who right now do not have the resources to help themselves."
 
"The stories in the news remind us that it is the blood that is readily available prior to national emergencies that can help save lives. The flooding has made access to any blood already stored difficult. The people in the Gulf need new supplies of blood, and we are happy to be able to help them through our collection on Wednesday," said Andrea H. Cefarelli, Executive Director Donor Recruitment, New York Blood Center. "The upcoming Labor Day holiday is also always a challenging period to maintain our inventory.  This is one of the most popular vacation periods as families enjoy the last days of August before the start of school. The blood drive in Chappaqua is important both today and tomorrow, and we hope that people can find the time to donate this Wednesday!"
 
Founded in 1964, The New York Blood Center serves 20 million people in the greater New York area through partnerships with more than 200 hospitals in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, New Jersey and parts of Connecticut. Now, donations made by New Yorkers will be able to aid families in Texas.
 
Harvey will likely surpass 2008's Hurricane Ike and 2001's Tropical Storm Allison, two of the most destructive storms to hit the Gulf Coast in recent memory. The area has not even seen the worst of storm. Torrential rains are expected to continue through Thursday. By then, Houston and the surrounding region could see more than 50 inches of rain.