Help save a life during summer vacation

Press release from the American Red Cross:

Help save a life during summer vacation
Blood donation opportunities abound through American Red Cross

As school subsides and summer planning begins, students and family members are encouraged to add one more activity to their vacation wish lists: donating blood.

“Imagine how it will feel when you can say: I helped save a life on my summer vacation,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “At the American Red Cross, we can make those words a reality before fall.”

The Red Cross relies on donors of high school and college age to help meet patient need for blood. About 20 percent of the community blood supply is donated by students through scheduled drives at schools, colleges or universities. Student-sponsored blood drives also comprise 17 percent of all Red Cross drives—coming in third behind community groups and businesses.

“We truly miss our college- and school-based drives when summer hits,” said Whitman. “But just because schools are closed doesn’t mean there aren’t other donation opportunities for eligible students.”

On any given day, Red Cross sponsors host about 12 blood drives in the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region. Many of the drives are open to the public and held at community centers, businesses and churches.

“The need for blood never goes on vacation,” said Whitman. “We’d like to encourage everyone —including students – to bring life to their summer memories by making and keeping an appointment to donate blood in their community.”

The Red Cross has set up several social media sites to reach out to youth and other donors. For details, visit facebook.com/redcrossblood and search for American Red Cross blood donors.

Come to donate May 8 – 21 and be entered into a region-wide drawing to win a $250 Shopping Spree!

 

Upcoming American Red Cross Blood Drives in your area:

• Sunday, May 16, from 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in the gymnasium, located at 14623 Bluffton Road in Yoder. Please call 622-7796 to schedule your blood donation appointment. This blood drive is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.
• Sunday, May 16, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, located at 2213 Brooklyn Ave. in Fort Wayne. Please call 456-7738 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
• Sunday, May 16, from 9: 30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at First Assembly of God, located at 1400 W. Washington Center Road in Fort Wayne.
• Wednesday, May 19, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Orthopaedics Northeast, located at 2720 Dupont Commerce Court in Fort Wayne. This blood drive is in memory of Kathy Linkhart. Please call 490-6970 or 416-3841 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
• Wednesday, May 19, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the American Legion, located at 14133 SR 1 in Leo. Please call 637-3427 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
• Wednesday, May 19, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at St. Therese Catholic Church, located at 2304 Lower Huntington Road in Fort Wayne. Please call 747-9139 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
• Saturday, May 22, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Fort Wayne Urban League in the large conference room, located at 2135 Hanna St. in Fort Wayne. Please call 745-3100 to schedule your blood donation appointment. This blood drive is co-sponsored by Toros Motorcycle Club.
• Monday, May 24, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, located at 943 Powers St. in New Haven. Come to donate and receive an American Red Cross umbrella.
• Tuesday, May 25, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Willows of Coventry, located at 4499 Coventry Parkway in Fort Wayne.
• Tuesday, May 25, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church, located at 12305 Arcola Road in Arcola. Come to donate and receive an American Red Cross umbrella.  This blood drive is sponsored by St. John’s Lutheran Lake Township.
• Wednesday, May 26, from 7:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at Centennial Post Office, located at 2525 Independence Drive in Fort Wayne.
• Wednesday, May 26, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Resurrection Lutheran Church, located at 14318 Lima Road in Fort Wayne. Come to donate and receive an American Red Cross umbrella.
• Wednesday, May 26, from 12:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. at Sears, located at 4201 Coldwater Road in Fort Wayne.
• Thursday, May 27, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Coldwell Banker Roth Wehrly Graber, located at 5503 Coventry Lane in Fort Wayne. Please call 341-0380, ext. 8121 or 459-4541 to schedule your blood donation appointment.

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. – 1:30 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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