The SunCoast Blood Bank is hoping Manatee and Sarasota County residents will answer the blood bank’s urgent call on Monday for blood and platelets to help victims of hurricane-ravaged Houston and the Gulf Coast area. The most critical need right now is for universal type O negative blood and platelets. The American Red Cross’ Southwest Florida Chapter has so far sent six volunteers to the Hurricane Harvey response effort. Two of the volunteers drove a roughly 30-foot emergency response vehicle fully loaded with supplies.
