Places to donate blood in San Jose

Here’s what you need to do

• Read up on the eligibility requirements for donating blood.
• Complete a Blood Donor History Questionnaire ahead of your appointment or on-site.
• When you arrive to donate blood, expect a short physical (temperature, pulse, blood pressure check, and a small finger prick to check your hemoglobin levels).

Things to remember

• Eat a hearty meal beforehand and give yourself an hour to digest.
• Drink an extra 16 ounces of room-temperature water prior to your donation to prep your veins, and continue drinking extra water afterwards.
• Avoid strenuous activities for the rest of the day.
• Incorporate iron-rich foods into your meals after donating.
• Eating and drinking properly beforehand will help prevent passing out.

Blood facts

• People with type O- blood are universal blood donors, but only 7% of the population has O- blood. Learn more about your blood type.
• There are ~10 pints of blood in your body. Roughly one pint is given during a donation — it can take between a couple of hours to a few weeks to replenish that amount.
• A blood donation can save up to three lives, but less than 38% of the population is eligible to give blood or platelets.

• Feast Mode | Friday, Sept. 29 | 4-10 p.m. | Between San Fernando St. and Park Ave., 125 S. Market St., San Jose | Free | Chow down at this fair boasting vendors from around the Bay Area serving up sweet + savory delights.
• BNM: Salsa Y Cerveza (Dance Party) | Friday, Sept. 29 | 5-9 p.m. | Garden at the Flea, 1590 Berryessa Rd., San Jose | Free | Dance to live music from Orquesta Salson + enjoy free dance lessons.

• Mid-Autumn Festival | Saturday, Sept. 30 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | San Jose Library: Berryessa Branch, 3355 Noble Ave., San Jose | Free | Enjoy lion dancers, local singers, storytellers, and treats.
• BBQ in the Glen | Saturday, Sept. 30 | 12-5 p.m. | Bank Of America, 1245 Lincoln Ave., San Jose | $45-$1,250 (VIP table) | This festival has all the meats.
• Mosaic Festival Silicon Valley | Saturday, Sept. 30-Sunday, Oct. 1 | 3-9 p.m. | Mexican Heritage Theater, 1700 Alum Rock Ave., San Jose | Free | Local art, live performances, workshops, and food at this fest aim to show the “mosaic” that is the Bay Area community.
• Representation Matters Film Festival | Saturday, Sept. 30 | 6-9 p.m. | Camino Brewing Company & Beer Garden, 718 S. First St., San Jose | Free | Watch 80 minutes of short films featuring diverse voices from the outdoors + adventuring community and meet with local organizations.

• Little Italy Street Festival | Sunday, Oct. 1 | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Little Italy, 323 W. Saint John St., San Jose | Free | Get ready for Italian cuisine, wine tasting, a Ferrari + Lamborghini area, and arts and crafts.
• Fall Block Party | Sunday, Oct. 1 | 12-5 p.m. | 1016 Lincoln Ave., San Jose | Free | Welcome the autumnal season with 40+ local vendors, pumpkin painting, a bounce house, and much more.

• Marc Spears — Andscape senior NBA writer + SJSU alumnus — is this year’s recipient for the William Randolph Hearst Foundation Award. SJSU’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication will honor him in a ceremony tomorrow, 11 a.m., at the Hammer Theatre. RSVP for a seat.

• A lottery ticket worth nearly $800,000 was sold at the Quik Stop off of Alum Rock Avenue at 5 Stewart Ave. this week. The lucky local matched five numbers + was the sole winner for Wednesday night’s drawing. The Powerball jackpot will rise to an estimated $925 million by Saturday. (The Mercury News)

• After two decades, Silicon Valley Creates CEO Connie Martinez will step down from her role at the end of the year. Alexandra Urbanowski, who has served as the group’s associate director since 2015, will take over in 2024. (The Mercury News)

• Did you know that Nvidia Corp. was born at a Denny’s in East San Jose? CEO Jensen Huang recalls the moment he + his co-founders came up with the idea for the AI chip company. A commemorative plaque now hangs over that corner booth in the 2484 Berryessa Rd. diner. (Silicon Valley Business Journal)

• Time to start caroling early. Enchant Christmas is hosting a Holiday Song Competition and asks participants to submit a video of themselves or their group performing a holiday song by Tuesday, Oct. 31. The winner gets $1,000 and a recording studio session.

• Borrow from your home — not the bank. Your home value could go down anytime; borrow now while it’s high. Calculate your payment.*