VALLEJO, Calif. — March 26, 2020 — Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, the Thrill Capital of Northern California, in association with Vitalant, the nation’s second largest community blood service provider, held a blood drive today in an effort to bring awareness and provide donations. The drive was held today at Vallejo-Napa Courtyard Marriott near the park.
The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the U.S. blood supply, and Vitalant and other blood centers across the country are struggling to maintain stable inventories. As schools and many businesses remain closed, more than 25% of anticipated blood collections in March have been lost. To assist with this need, the park encouraged their fans and staff to make a blood donation. Donors received a complimentary ticket to the park, valid until the end of the year, as an extra incentive.
“Six Flags is known for providing thrills and fond memories for our local communities,” said Park President for Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Don McCoy, “While our parks are temporarily closed, we recognized this critical need for the community and wanted to do whatever we could to help.”
In total, donors provided enough units of blood to equate to 84 potential lives saved. All donors were required to schedule an appointment ahead of time, and Vitalant put in new procedures based on the most recent federal, state and local guidelines.
