San Francisco: Let’s do a Red Cross blood drive

Ever since Hurricane Sandy hit, I’ve been sitting here unable to tear myself away from the news about friends and loved ones, about places I’ve lived and used to go as a little girl. I’m feeling far away and helpless.

Giving money is hugely important, and if you haven’t done so yet, please do. There are many ways to donate money, both for people and for animals. But giving blood is also critical, and the Red Cross has stated that the hurricane has affected blood and platelet supply.

There’s a mass of us in a very walkable area. We could easily have a Red Cross blood drive. In order to do so, the Red Cross recommends at least 300 participants. With all of us at the many companies from Embarcadero to Civic Center, from Market St. to South Park, we can find a location for the bloodmobile (I’m sure there’s another name for it but I kind of hope not).

Companies can work internally to recruit teams. I’ve talked to my fellow Mules, and I’d love to see a Twitter team and a Wired team and a Square team, because for all the whatever of we’re the center of tech now no way we are or omg gross Silicon Valley vs. Silicon Alley and ugh South Park and Brooklyn vs. Berkeley and tech journalist throwdown of the week and guys, I have no idea anymore, because there will always be time for that once the people we know and love are no longer going through such miserable, (literally) dark times. 

Please let me know if you and/or your company would participate in this FOR REAL. I want to gauge interest so I can contact the Red Cross with a real plan and have it get carried out. We’ll have to schedule 300 appointments and really organize this.

Some people think we deserve what we get for living in earthquake zones or hurricane paths or whatever, but at the end of the day, I feel like we’re all in this together. Please let me know.