Press release from the American Red Cross:
Faith groups team with Red Cross for ‘Power in the Blood’
Summer campaign to boost blood supply
Faith groups across the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region will team with the American Red Cross this summer with the aim of collecting 1,000 pints of blood in a blood donor campaign called “Power in the Blood.”
Power in the Blood is an interfaith initiative bringing together groups of all beliefs to help the community maintain a potentially lifesaving supply of donated blood. Last year, 32,670 pints of blood were collected at churches and faith groups, potentially saving 98,010 lives in the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region. Power in the Blood encourages faith groups to join together during the summer months to help save even more lives this year.
The campaign is strategically scheduled in the summer because the season tends to be the most challenging time for blood collections. This campaign involves any faith organization in the over 50 counties of the Indiana-Ohio Region that hosts a blood drive in the months of June, July or August, which contributes to the overall blood collection goal for the campaign. This campaign is vital to help the Red Cross collect and maintain an adequate blood supply.
“Faith groups generally are already highly active during the summer months and often look for additional ways to serve the community,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “This program provides an opportunity for people of various beliefs to work together toward a common goal to the benefit of thousands of patients who need blood transfusions.”
The need for blood is constant. Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood. This year, as many as four million patients will require blood transfusions, yet only a fraction of those eligible actually give. Blood must be readily available – on hospital blood bank shelves ready for transfusion – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
“Power in the Blood gives you the chance to put the power of faith into action and help save lives,” Whitman said. Those interested in signing up their group to participate, or who want to give blood at a blood drive can call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org.
UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN YOUR AREA:
- Tuesday, June 1, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Mill Supplies, Inc., located at 5105 Industrial Road in Fort Wayne. Please call 484-8566 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Saturday, June 5, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Carroll Road Christian Church in the Connection Room, located at 4704 W. Carroll Road in Fort Wayne. Please call 489-0221, 418-9461 or 450-9350 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Saturday, June 5, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Jack R. Harris Park, located at 13741 N. Main St. in Grabill. This is a Northeast Allen Cancer Walk and Relay for Life blood drive. Please call 627-5227, ext. 4 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Saturday, June 5, from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at Summit Middle School, located at 4509 Homestead Road in Fort Wayne. This blood drive is sponsored by the Don Ayers Time Corners Little League and is a Pint Size Heroes blood drive.
- Monday, June 7, from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Harlan Christian Youth Center, located at 17308 Second St. in Harlan.
- Monday, June 7, from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Logikos, located at 2914 Independence Drive in Fort Wayne. Please call 483-3638 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Tuesday, June 8, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Woodbridge of Fort Wayne, located at 5710 River Run Trail in Fort Wayne. Come to donate and be entered into a drawing for a $50 shopping spree. Please call 482-8156 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Wednesday, June 9, from 7:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at Wells Fargo Bank, located at 111 E. Wayne St. in Fort Wayne. Please call 424-9080, ext. 317 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Saturday, June 12, from 8 a.m. until 12 noon at Praise Lutheran Church in the Fellowship Hall, located at 1115 W. Dupont Road in Fort Wayne.
- Sunday, June 13, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in the Recreation Hall, located at 11337 Old U.S. 27 South in Fort Wayne. Please call 639-6001 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Tuesday, June 15, from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Parkview Hospital in the Pach Room, located at 2200 Randallia Drive in Fort Wayne. Please call 373-3902 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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