Riverhead Fire Department, NY Blood Center Host March 3 Blood Drive

Donors who gave at the Riverhead Fire Department’s community blood drive on March 3 collected baked goods and a coupon for a free scoop of ice cream from Snowflake Ice Cream Shoppe after donating in the Banquet Room at 540 Roanoke Avenue, Riverhead. The drive ran from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and was hosted by the Riverhead Volunteer Fire Department in partnership with the New York Blood Center.

The New York Blood Center event listing reads, “Riverhead Fire Department — Tuesday, March 03, 2026 — 01:00 pm - 07:00 pm,” and scheduling was handled through NYBC’s HemaConnect platform; returning donors may log in while new or guest donors may schedule without creating an account. “Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome,” local coverage advised, and donors were able to review available appointment times and donation types during scheduling.

Donors at the March 3 drive could give whole blood or double red blood cells; NYBC recommends first-time donors select a whole blood appointment. Eligibility and preparation guidance provided for the event included eating and hydrating beforehand, bringing photo ID, feeling symptom-free on the day of donation, meeting a minimum weight of 110 pounds, and meeting age rules — donors must be 17 or older, or 16 with parental consent using the Parental/Guardian Permission form available on NYBC’s donor eligibility resources.

The Riverhead drive was positioned as part of a broader response to regional need: “The blood emergency first declared by New York Blood Center and New Jersey Blood Services on Jan. 6, 2026, has been extended, mainly due to the influx of winter storms that have battered the East End,” local coverage reported. Nearby North Fork efforts included a Greenport American Legion drive on Feb. 26 at the roller rink, 102 Third St., Greenport, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., also encouraging appointments.

The New York Blood Center, described on its site as one of the largest community-based, non-profit blood collection and distribution organizations in the United States, coordinated the Riverhead event with the fire department as part of ongoing local drives responding to the extended emergency. Donors seeking future appointments should use NYBC’s online scheduling through HemaConnect or attend as walk-ins at listed drives.