With COVID-19 keeping people at home, West Michigan's blood supply is at a record low, but you could help change that on Saturday.

With the coronavirus, shutdowns and many of the other curve balls thrown at us, many have lost their habit of donating blood. It's a very tricky thing not knowing who's blood may have COVID-19 or if there is a safe way to donate.

According to WOOD, Spectrum Health is hosting a blood drive this week. Supplies are low while people still need blood. Spectrum is reaching out to the Black community to help diversify their blood supply.

Spectrum is trying to build better trust with the Black community and get rid of some of the distrust some of the community holds on some of their medical staffers. A blood drive will help bridging the gap and hopefully open some doors to getting COVID-19 vaccines at a later date.

The blood drive has been titled the Martin Luther King Commemoration Week Blood Drive. If you would like to participate, the event will take place at the Baxter Community Center in Grand Rapids 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. this Saturday, January 23.

We all think all blood is the same but in African Americans there are some different qualities of blood and that is why Spectrum is looking for a more diverse blood supply.

The medical community is working hard to tear down the walls of health inequities and create a more diversified blood supply. This takes confidence and trust from the community in order to succeed, especially when it comes to COVID-19 vaccinations.

If you would like to be a part of the blood drive, you can register now for the Martin Luther King Commemoration Week Blood drive here.

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