The Organ Grinders (OG) and the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic and Assistance Foundation (NOMAF) co-host their fourth annual tiki-themed blood drive on Aug. 27 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Tipitina’s. The groups’ goal is to collect 250 pints of blood for The Blood Center of New Orleans in a day filled with live music, dance troupe showcases, raffles, and more.
“This isn’t your average blood drive,” says Christina Duggar, Founding President of the NOLA Organ Grinders, who has coordinated more than 13 local dance troupes to come out in costume that day. “The event illustrates the philanthropic capacity of Mardi Gras Dance troupes - all while doing something very important--stocking blood transfusions at a time when the city needs it the most.”
The Blood Center of New Orleans says it relies on a collection rate of 350 pints each day to answer the needs of the region, and will be bringing five blood buses to keep up with the day’s demand. “This event is a tremendous benefit to New Orleans - it engages new blood donors at a time when we need them the most” says Paul Adams, Public Relations Manager for the Blood Center. “We applaud the Organ Grinders and Musicians’ Clinic for their dedication to solving a problem that affects everyone - we all know someone who has needed a transfusion.”
NOMAF began organizing blood drives in response to the Mother's Day Shooting on Frenchmen St. in 2013. Following the 2014 shooting on Bourbon Street that injured nine and killed a young nursing student, the OGs got involved. “At first, the vision was to organize these blood drive parties as a constructive response to the city’s ongoing violence,” explained Erica Dudas, NOMAF’s Managing Director. “Now, they’re a celebration, where New Orleans’ rich music culture meets community wellness - a space that the Musicians’ Clinic mission is always seeking to expand and harmonize. Partying and preventive health going hand in hand; it’s beautiful.”
The event will offer Medicaid Enrollment, and Rapid HIV and Hep C testing, courtesy of Odyssey House Louisiana. Event goers can also sign up to vote, and obtain a New Orleans Public Library Card on site, as well as learn about offerings from partners such as 504 Health Net, NOLA Ready, MaCCNO, Fair Housing Action Center, CeaseFire, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Mosquito Control Services.
If the group succeeds in collecting 250 pints before or at the event, they will have accumulated more than 1,000 units of blood, translating to roughly 3,000 transfusions for local hospitals.
Signup at neworleansmusiciansclinic.org/blooddrive
Blood donors are encouraged to pre-register and reserve a donation time to avoid wait times at https://goo.gl/FGXAuz
Those who give blood at the event will receive a floral lei, event t-shirt, food, and beverages donated by several local restaurants. Tiki costumes are encouraged.
Those who cannot make the event may visit any Blood Center location (http://www.thebloodcenter.org/About/Locations.aspx) prior to Aug. 27, and tell the staff that they are donating for the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic & Assistance Foundation (K090) - Tipitina’s to be included in that number.
Event musical entertainment includes Bonerama, SOUL Brass Band, DJ Fayard Lindsey, Jeremy Thomas & The BlackLight, and NickName & The Valmonts. Thirteen dance troupes will present a dancer showcase, and more than 100 local businesses have already donated to the day’s raffle and silent auction. The winner of two roundtrip Southwest Airline tickets will be announced, and The Rolling Elvi will also host a competitive limbo competition.
Official dance troupe partners include The Organ Grinders, Camel Toe Lady Steppers, The Cherry Bombs, Cosmonaughties, El Lucha Krewe, High Quality Dancers, Rolling Elvi Jailhouse Rockers, Muff-A-Lottas, The Nola Showgirls, Petty Betties, Pussyfooters, Roux La La, The Sirens, Fleur de Tease, and Dames de Perlage