Your Donation is Important!!

Some African Americans have rare blood types, such as U-negative, that are unique to the African-American community. Rare blood donors are special because they are desperately needed to help others with rare blood types survive. African Americans with diseases like sickle cell anemia, cancer, leukemia or kidney disease are less likely to have physical reactions to blood donated from other African Americans.

Many African Americans have become blood donors and donate blood regularly. However, there are far more African-American patients needing blood than there are African Americans donating blood. While African Americans comprise nearly 13% of the United States population, they represent less than 1% of eligible blood donors. The result is far greater demand for blood types O and B commonly found among African Americans.