News release from the American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana:
Celebrate Red Cross Month by giving blood in March
(February 16, 2016) – During Red Cross Month in March, the American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to join in its lifesaving mission by giving blood.
Since 1943, every U.S. president has designated March as Red Cross Month to recognize how the Red Cross helps people down the street, across the country and around the world.
Red Cross Month is a celebration of the everyday heroes, like Karla Essmiller, who are the face of the Red Cross in their communities. Essmiller began donating blood and even coordinated a few blood drives when she was in college. “Donating blood is a simple gift that I can make that may help up to three people live another day,” she said. “That makes me feel like a hero!”
The Red Cross depends on blood donor heroes across the nation to collect enough blood to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals nationwide. Donors of all blood types are needed to help accident and burn victims, patients undergoing organ transplants, those receiving cancer treatments and others who rely on blood products.
Make an appointment to become a hero to patients in need by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Upcoming blood donation opportunities
Allen County
- 3/1/2016: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Fort Wayne Blood Donation Center, 1212 E California Rd, Fort Wayne
- 3/1/2016: 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Parkview Hospital, 2200 Randallia, Fort Wayne
- 3/1/2016: 1:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m., Lutheran Hospital Blood Donation Center, 7900 W. Jefferson Suite 107, Fort Wayne
- 3/2/2016: 7:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m., Lutheran Hospital Blood Donation Center, 7900 W. Jefferson Suite 107, Fort Wayne
- 3/2/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Fort Wayne Blood Donation Center, 1212 E California Rd, Fort Wayne
- 3/3/2016: 7:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m., Lutheran Hospital Blood Donation Center, 7900 W. Jefferson Suite 107, Fort Wayne
- 3/3/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Fort Wayne Blood Donation Center, 1212 E California Rd, Fort Wayne
- 3/4/2016: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Fort Wayne Blood Donation Center, 1212 E California Rd, Fort Wayne
- 3/5/2016: 7:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m., Lutheran Hospital Blood Donation Center, 7900 W. Jefferson Suite 107, Fort Wayne
- 3/5/2016: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Covenant United Methodist Church, 10001 Coldwater Road, Fort Wayne
- 3/5/2016: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Fort Wayne Blood Donation Center, 1212 E California Rd, Fort Wayne
- 3/6/2016: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., St Joseph Catholic Church, 11337 Old US 27 South, Fort Wayne
- 3/7/2016: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Fort Wayne Blood Donation Center, 1212 E California Rd, Fort Wayne
- 3/7/2016: 1:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m., Lutheran Hospital Blood Donation Center, 7900 W. Jefferson Suite 107, Fort Wayne
- 3/7/2016: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Manchester University College of Pharmacy, 10627 Diebold Road, Fort Wayne
- 3/8/2016: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Fort Wayne Blood Donation Center, 1212 E California Rd, Fort Wayne
- 3/8/2016: 1:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m., Lutheran Hospital Blood Donation Center, 7900 W. Jefferson Suite 107, Fort Wayne
- 3/8/2016: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Resurrection Lutheran Church, 14318 Lima Road, Fort Wayne
- 3/9/2016: 7:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m., Lutheran Hospital Blood Donation Center, 7900 W. Jefferson Suite 107, Fort Wayne
- 3/9/2016: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Homestead High School, 4310 Homestead Road, Fort Wayne
- 3/9/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Fort Wayne Blood Donation Center, 1212 E California Rd, Fort Wayne
- 3/10/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Fort Wayne Blood Donation Center, 1212 E California Rd, Fort Wayne
- 3/10/2016: 1:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m., Lutheran Hospital Blood Donation Center, 7900 W. Jefferson Suite 107, Fort Wayne
- 3/11/2016: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Fort Wayne Blood Donation Center, 1212 E California Rd, Fort Wayne
- 3/12/2016: 7:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m., Lutheran Hospital Blood Donation Center, 7900 W. Jefferson Suite 107, Fort Wayne
- 3/12/2016: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Fort Wayne Blood Donation Center, 1212 E California Rd, Fort Wayne
DeKalb County
- 3/1/2016: 4 a.m. – 11 a.m., Nucor, 305 Industrial Parkway, Waterloo
- 3/1/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 500 East 7th St., Auburn
- 3/3/2016: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Garrett High School, 801 East Houston St, Garrett
- 3/12/2016: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Classic City Center, 3375 County Road 427, Waterloo
Huntington County
- 3/2/2016: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Legion, 1122 N Main Street, Roanoke
- 3/7/2016: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Evangelical United Methodist Church, 1000 Flaxmill Rd., Huntington
- 3/10/2016: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Roanoke Elementary School, 423 W Vine Street, Roanoke
Noble County
- 3/4/2016: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Trinity Church, 229 S. State St., Kendallville
- 3/4/2016: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Asbury United Methodist Church, 605 East Main St., Albion
- 3/4/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Ligonier United Methodist Church, 466 Townline Rd, Ligonier
Steuben County
- 3/2/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Helmer United Methodist Church, 7530 S SR 327, Helmer
Whitley County
- 3/3/2016: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., United Methodist Church, 605 North Forest Parkway, Columbia City
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.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.Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
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.