Sat May 10 - 12:00pm-4:00pm

On May 10, from noon until 4 p.m., Artomatic will be sponsoring a blood drive to benefit the Blood Donor Center at Children's National Medical Center.The drive will take place on the grounds of the Capitol Plaza I building, site of this year’s Artomatic. The Capitol Plaza I building is located at 1200 First Street, NE, Washington, DC, 20002 (New York Avenue Metro stop, M Street exit). Children’s National Medical Center will be bringing a bloodmobile to collect donations on-site.

“Artomatic is a community arts event, and this is one of the many ways that we are giving back to our community,” said Artomatic artist Kerri Sheehan, who is helping coordinate the blood drive.

The Blood Donor Center team at Children’s National Medical Center collects approximately 2,800 whole blood donations and 750 platelet donations per year. But as the number of patients treated at the medical center continues to grow, the need for blood donations is greater than ever. Blood and platelets are in constant demand for victims of accidents, cancer treatments, blood diseases and many types of surgery. Each pint donated through the drive may help three or more patients at Children’s National. While all blood centers have a constant need, Children’s National Medical Center is the only hospital in the region dedicated exclusively to pediatrics and has specialized needs for transfusion services for children.

On May 10, Children's National Medical Center is hoping to collect more than 30 units of blood through the Artomatic blood drive, and that could help save lives of up to 90 children.

Donors will be able to give blood on a walk-up basis on Saturday, but you can make sure you are first in line by reserving a timeslot. To make a reservation, visit www.childrensnational.org/donateblood, enter the sponsor code “art”, select the Artomatic drive and reserve your time.