Israel’s national emergency medical, disaster, ambulance and blood bank services Magen David Adom (MDA) is seeing a severe shortage in its blood bank before the Passover holiday.

According to recent reports in the Israeli press, the severe shortage of blood is mainly Type 0 Positive and Rh Negative factor blood (A Negative, Negative and O Negative).

Often around the holiday seasons, the blood banks run low. MDA has put a call out to the public in Israel, both residents and tourists alike, to help replenish the blood supply by donating blood. For those who are unable to physically give blood, donors can give a virtual blood donation through Heart to Heart, an organization that directly supports MDA.

Blood donations in Israel always decline around the holidays mainly because residents are on vacation, travel abroad, and do not keep to their regular routine. MDA told The Jerusalem Post that the shortage “is liable to result in postponement of non-emergency operations.”

Luckily there are organizations and warm hearted donors around the world and in Israel hard at work to answer the call and support Israel’s blood banks. Aside from the blood banks, MDA and Heart to Heart are helping to restore the fleet of ambulances operated by MDA, which took much wear and tear during the last year’s summer war.

Jonathan Feldstein, Director of Heart to Heart, told Breaking Israel News that many Christians around the world have stepped up to support Israel’s national blood bank center.

“Heart to Heart is proud to support Israel’s national blood center, and grateful to the growing number of churches and ministries joining us, participating in our unique virtual blood donation program to provide financial support, as well as the steady stream of tourists who make it a point to donate blood in person when visiting Jerusalem,” he explained. “Every pint of blood can save up to three peoples lives, and sponsoring a pint of blood for just $100 gives us the resources to help the national blood center save even more people.”

Recently, in honor of Palm Sunday, an ambulance was donated to MDA by Christian Friends of Israel. “The special relationship between Christians and Jews is often reflected in MDA, and  it will help save lives we all share,” David Figley, head of Christ Church in Jerusalem, said during the inauguration of the ambulance by the Jaffa Gate outside Jerusalem’s Old City.

“I call on all those present to continue to encourage their friends around the globe to deliver financial contributions for the purpose of saving lives and to give blood that can help save the lives of many.”

Another ambulance was donated recently by Sylvia Footlik and her late husband, Irving Footlik, of Skokie, Chicago. The ambulance  is one of 48 ambulances that have been sent to Israel from the US so far this year through Heart to Heart and its sister organizations. In 2014 alone, 119 ambulances were sent to Israel.

The donations of the ambulances are coming just in time as Israel is facing a great need to boost their fleet of ambulances, as well as boost the number of blood donations to curb the blood shortages that the country is now facing.

Virtual blood donations can be made via Heart to Heart online or in person at any of the mobile blood units or hospitals in Israel.