Red Cross encourages donors to give blood before the holiday season

News release from the American Red Cross:

Red Cross encourages donors to give blood before the holiday season

(October 19, 2015) – The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood before the holiday season is in full swing.

Blood donations often decline from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day when holiday festivities pull people away from their donation appointments. This often causes a drop in the blood available for patients. Donations are needed in the weeks leading up to the holidays to help offset this seasonal decline.

Blood donor Kathy Steckly Neuschwander’s father gave blood for years. She always saw him wear his pin when he reached his next gallon – about 12 gallons total. When he was diagnosed with leukemia, she and her family learned firsthand how important blood donations could be around the holidays.

“He passed away in 1994 from leukemia and needed a blood transfusion so we could have one more Thanksgiving together,” she said. “My brother and sister were able to come home from the East Coast for this. I can now say I am wearing his three-gallon pin.”

Donors with all blood types are needed, and especially those with types O negative, B negative, A negative and AB blood. To make an appointment to donate blood, download the free Red Cross Blood Donor App from app stores, visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors can now use the Blood Donor App to access their donor card and view vital signs from previous donations.

 

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

American Red Cross Blood Donation Centers:

Fort Wayne Donor Center
1212 E. California Rd., Fort Wayne
(across from the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum)

Whole Blood Donations

• Monday and Tuesday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Wednesday and Thursday: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
• Friday: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Saturday: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Platelet Donations

• Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Thursday: 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday: 6:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Sunday: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Lutheran Hospital Donor Center

7900 W. Jefferson Blvd., Suite 107, Fort Wayne
(South Lobby of Lutheran Hospital)

Whole Blood Donations

• Monday and Tuesday: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
• Wednesday: 6 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Saturday: 6 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Platelet Donations

• Monday and Tuesday: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
• Wednesday and Thursday: 6 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday: 6 a.m. – 12 p.m.

 

Additional blood donation opportunities:

Adams County

• 11/13/2015: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Century Link, 248 West Monroe St., Decatur

 

Allen County

• 11/1/2015: 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., St. Aloysuis Catholic Church, 14623 Bluffton Rd., Yoder
• 11/1/2015: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Pine Hills Church, 4704 Carroll Rd., Fort Wayne
• 11/4/2015: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., St. Johns Lutheran Lake Twp., 7914 West Cook Rd., Fort Wayne
• 11/9/2015: 2 p.m. – 8 p.m., Grabill Missionary Church, 13637 State St., Grabil
• 11/10/2015: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., International Business College, 5699 Coventry Lane, Fort Wayne
• 11/10/2015: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Parkview Hospital, 2200 Randallia, Fort Wayne
• 11/10/2015: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., Ivy Tech North Campus – Student Life Building, 4900 St. Joe Rd., Fort Wayne
• 11/12/2015: 8 a.m. – 11 a.m., Brown Mackie College, 3000 East Coliseum Blvd., Fort Wayne
• 11/14/2015: 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., St. Vincent de Paul, 1720 East Wallen Rd., Fort Wayne
• 11/14/2015: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Towles Intermediate Montessori School, 420 East Paulding Rd., Fort Wayne
• 11/15/2015: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., St. Therese Catholic Church, 2304 Lower Huntington Rd., Fort Wayne

 

DeKalb County

• 11/3/2015: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1203 East 7th St., Auburn
• 11/11/2015: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Lakewood Park Christian School, 5555 CR 29 South, Auburn
• 11/12/2015: 6 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Nucor, 6730 County Rd 60, St. Joe
• 11/12/2015: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Nucor, 6730 County Rd 60, St. Joe
• 11/14/2015: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Cedar Lake Church of the Brethren, 2939 County Rd. 15, Auburn

 

Huntington County

• 11/2/2015: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Union Church, 3688 E 400 N
• 11/3/2015: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Lancaster Elementary School, 2932 West 300 South
• 11/9/2015: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Evangelical United Methodist Church, 1000 Flaxmill Rd.
• 11/11/2015: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., American Legion, 1122 N Main St., Roanoke

 

Noble County

• 11/2/2015: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Avilla Elementary School, 200 W. Washington St., Avilla
• 11/6/2015: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Trinity Church, 229 S. State St., Kendallville
• 11/6/2015: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Asbury United Methodist Church, 605 East Main St., Albion
• 11/6/2015: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Ligonier United Methodist Church, 466 Townline Rd., Ligonier

 

Steuben County

• 11/4/2015: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Helmer United Methodist Church, 7530 S SR 327, Helmer
• 11/9/2015: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Fairview Missionary Church, 525 E 200 N, Angola
• 11/12/2015: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Trine University, 1 University Ave., Angola

 

Whitley County

• 11/5/2015: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Churubusco United Methodist Church, 750 North Main, Churubusco
• 11/11/2015: 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Parkview Whitley Hospital, 1260 East State Rd. 205, Columbia City
• 11/12/2015: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., United Methodist Church, 605 North Forest Parkway, Columbia City
• 11/11/2015: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., South Whitley Public Library, 201 East Front St., South Whitley

 

How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org.

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