Hindu Americans to donate blood to mark 9/11 anniversary

Washington, July 20: Hindu-Americans across North America will mark the 12th anniversary of 9/11 by donating blood at their places of worship. Marrow registration has been added on the day of blood donation. This will be the third time that such an ambitious project is held at the many Hindu temples in North America.

This effort is being coordinated by the HMEC (Hindu Mandirs Executive Conference) having a network of approximately 600 temples in North America. Agencies such as the American Red Cross will collect the blood and SAMAR (South Asian Marrow Association of Recruiters) will register marrow donors.

The HMEC and leaders of the Indian-American community are making an appeal to the temples, other religious based organizations and the 3 million Indian-Americans in the USA to continue to come forward and join this movement to save lives.

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, nearly 14 million units of whole blood and red cells are required every year. Some patients of Asian descent require a closer blood match than that provided by the ABO positive/negative blood typing. 

For this reason, it is extremely important to increase the number of available blood donors from the Asian communities. 5% of the total eligible population in the US gives blood. However, less than 1% of the Asian community donates blood.

Continued participation of Hindu temples across North America are significantly contributing to increase the odds to save lives of those in need of donations of blood and marrow.

In addition, educational institutions including faith-based organizations such as yoga schools and higher education student organizations have also joined this effort.