SEATTLE -- There may be no baseball underway in Seattle right now, but Mariners fans have pitched in so strongly to local efforts during the COVID-19 emergency that an initial three-week-long blood drive program at T-Mobile Park has been extended again.

After all of the initial 555 available donor appointment time slots were filled, the Mariners and Bloodworks Northwest extended the program through May to make another potential 880 donor spots available. Now the program has again been extended through the month of June.

“On behalf of the community, thanks to donors for stepping up to the plate during this COVID-19 crisis to keep our shelves stocked for local patients,” said Bloodworks Northwest President and CEO Curt Bailey. “They are All-Star donors giving back to the community and saving lives.”

The effort to help meet blood supplies during the pandemic is being conducted by one-hour appointments in order to meet the ongoing social distancing guidelines. Only scheduled appointments are allowed and no walk-ins, guests or people under the age of 16 are permitted onsite. Participants are reminded that bags are not allowed inside the park, and sign-ups are available on Bloodworks' website.

The Mariners are giving every donor two tickets to a future game. Fans are invited to wear team colors as they participate.

Donors participating will go to the Ellis Pavilion just inside the third-base entrance on the street level. Free parking will be available on the plaza adjacent to the Mariners garage on the corner of Edgar Martinez Drive and Occidental St.

Appointments can be made on Mondays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT, Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We’re excited to be partnering with the Seattle Mariners to keep the blood shelves stocked,” said Bailey. “The health of our community depends on donors making blood donation a regular habit. Creating this opportunity for people to donate blood at T-Mobile Park is how we keep our community safe. Our community is counting on the best fans in baseball to look after our friends, family and neighbors by donating blood.”

Former catcher Dan Wilson, a member of the Mariners Hall of Fame, was among those who donated.

“This is an unprecedented time, but when there is a crisis, our community always comes together,” Wilson said. “Giving blood is something we all can do to help to meet a critical need during this national emergency. My wife, Annie, and I are grateful for the opportunity to be able to assist in some small way. My hope is everyone who is able to give blood will sign up to donate at T-Mobile Park or at a Bloodworks center close to home.”

Also supporting the effort are Mariners corporate partners Pepsi and Hempler’s Foods, both which are providing refreshments for all donors during the pop-up blood drives

Bloodworks has posted information addressing questions and concerns for blood donors on its coronavirus-centric webpage. Blood donation takes about an hour from registration to post-donation refreshment. Information about who is able to donate and locations where one can do so other than T-Mobile Park is available at BloodworksNW.org.