With most Bay Area residents on vacation and in leisure mode, Labor Day weekend typically is one of the slowest times of the year for donations of blood to area Blood Banks. 

This year, with the help of the Millbrae Art & Wine Festival, that may change. The Millbrae Chamber of Commerce, longtime festival organizer, is partnering with Blood Centers of the Pacific (BCP) to host a blood drive at the festival, September 5-6, with the goal of helping to boost the critically low blood supply in the Bay Area.

The popular Labor Day weekend festival will host the BCP Bloodmobile where festivalgoers can give blood after going through a screening process. Typically, summer is when blood shortages occur due to vacations and fewer blood drives at venues such as high schools and colleges. Shortages result in rationing of blood to hospitals and serious concern over a region's ability to respond to large scale emergencies.

"Labor Day weekend is traditionally one of the most challenging weekends of the year for blood donation," said Dr. Nora Hirschler, President of Blood Centers of the Pacific. "We're grateful to the Millbrae Chamber of Commerce for giving us the opportunity to collect much-needed blood from those attending the festival."

“We hope to help BCP fill a critical and very real need,” said John Ford, President/CEO of the Millbrae Chamber of Commerce. “Supporting their important effort is the right thing to do.”

Blood Centers of the Pacific is a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides volunteer blood donations to patients in 40 hospitals throughout Northern California. BCP has donation locations throughout the region. For information, visit http://www.bloodcenters.org.