Back in March, when the COVID-19 pandemic first began, it looked like the impact on our ability to collect blood would be devastating. Social distancing guidelines forced our fleet of bloodmobiles off the streets, blood drives at high schools, colleges and businesses were now suddenly a thing of the past.
So Bloodworks Northwest started something called a “Pop-Up” Donor Center at T-Mobile Park, the now-vacant home of the Mariners since the MLB 2020 season was postponed. But their space at the ballpark offered Bloodworks the ability to collect blood while giving Mariners fans a chance to show their support of the team as well as for the cause of maintaining an adequate blood supply. The "Pop-Up" concept has since proven to be so effective that the idea is being tried in other stadiums, theaters and museums across the Pacific Northwest. But the Mariners' Pop-Up Donor Center was where it all began.
The first day of the Mariners Pop-Up Donor Center, some current and former Mariners players and front office staff stepped up to donate blood. Some for the first time. One of those was Rick Rizzs, the Voice of the Mariners who spoke with Bloodworks 101 Producer John Yeager about the 2020 baseball season and the importance of donating blood.