Press release from the American Red Cross:
Volunteers honored during American Red Cross Month
A decade into the new century, the American Red Cross continues to build on its core purpose of helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. And for a month each spring, the 129-year-old organization thanks the countless volunteers who have been helping to change lives since 1881.
Every year since 1943, the President of the United States issues a proclamation that designates March as Red Cross Month. The tradition began when Franklin D. Roosevelt appealed to the American public to assist the Red Cross during World War II.
From 1941 to 1945, the American Red Cross collected more than 13 million blood donations through the National Blood Donor Service program. Shortly following the war, the Red Cross introduced its National Blood Program for civilians by opening the first blood collection center in Rochester, N.Y.
“We’ve always been about providing opportunity to help save lives through blood donation,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “Our strength, then as well as now, lies in the active involvement of people who come forward as volunteers to help meet needs in their community and across the country.”
Red Cross Month is marked by celebrations of blood donors, as well as volunteers in areas like disaster relief, health and safety training, support to military members and their families, and blood donations.
“March is a time we can honor the contributions Red Cross volunteers make to our nation,” said Whitman, “It’s a time, too, when we like to encourage more people to get involved through the simple act of blood donation or by volunteering at a blood drive in their community.”
UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN YOUR AREA:
**All presenting donors at the following blood drives will receive a coupon from Dunkin Donuts for one free donut.**
- Thursday, March 4, from 12:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. at Dupont Hospital, located at 2520 E. Dupont Road in Fort Wayne. Please call 416-3023 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Saturday, March 6, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Liberty Tax Service, located at 324 E. Lincoln Highway in New Haven. Please call 493-7816 or go to redcrossblood.org to schedule your blood donation appointment. This blood drive is sponsored by Calhoun Street Soups, Salad and Spirits. All presenting donors will receive a $50 credit good towards tax preparation from Liberty Tax Service in New Haven.
- Saturday, March 6, from 8 a.m. until 12 noon at the United Methodist Church of the Covenant, located at 10001 Coldwater Road in Fort Wayne. Please call 438-2801 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Monday, March 8, from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Grabill Missionary Church, located at 13637 State St. in Grabill. Please call 466-3213 to arrange transportation to this blood drive.
- Tuesday, March 9, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at St. Johns Lutheran Lake Township Church, located at 7914 W. Cook Road in Fort Wayne. Please call 489-5031 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Sunday, March 14, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, located at 11337 Old U.S. 27 South in Fort Wayne. Please call 639-6001 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Monday, March 15, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Ivy Tech Community College, North Campus gymnasium in the Student Life Building, located at 4900 St. Joe Road in Fort Wayne. Please call 341-6940 to schedule your blood donation appointment. This blood drive is sponsored by the Fort Wayne Chapter of the American Culinary Federation and is a chili cook-off blood drive.
Fort Wayne Donor Center located at 1212 E. California Road in Fort Wayne, (across from the Memorial Coliseum)Traditional whole blood or double red cell donation:
- Mon. & Tues. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Weds. & Thurs. 12 noon – 6 p.m.
- Fri. & Sat. 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Platelet Pheresis Donation (call 1-800-589-8127 or 260-480-8299 to schedule a platelet donation):
- Mon. 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Tues. & Weds. 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Thurs. 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Fri. 6:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Sat. 6:30 a.m. – 12 noon
- Sun. 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Lutheran Hospital Donor Center located at 7900 W. Jefferson Blvd., Suite 107 in Fort Wayne (in the South Lobby of Lutheran Hospital) Traditional whole blood or platelet pheresis donation (no platelet pheresis on Wednesdays):
- Monday through Wednesday: 12 noon – 6 p.m.
- Thursday through Saturday: 6 a.m. – 12 noon
- Sunday: by appointment only
How to Donate Blood
To schedule an appointment to donate please call 1 -800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org for more information. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.About the American Red Cross
The Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region serves northern and central Indiana and northwestern Ohio, and needs to collect about 500 units of blood a day to meet patient need in more than 60 hospitals. In addition to providing blood to our community, the American Red Cross also provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communication link between U.S. military members and their families, and assists victims of international disasters or conflicts.
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