News release from the American Red Cross:
Public encouraged to donate blood around Thanksgiving
Some say Thanksgiving should be more than just a single day. When you donate blood through the American Red Cross, you can give thanks for a lifetime.
(November 7, 2013) – “As you reflect on what you are grateful for this holiday season, set aside time to come donate blood,” said Tracy Fox, spokesperson for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “Your donation can give someone another moment, another day, another holiday to spend with love ones and friends. And that’s something to feel thankful for.”
Patients rely on blood from volunteer donors. In fact, patients across the U.S. need more than 44,000 pints of blood each day to treat emergency and ongoing medical conditions. Locally, about 500 blood donations are needed daily for patients in the more than 60 hospitals served by the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the Red Cross.
But while the need for blood is constant, the supply of blood sometimes isn’t. Blood donations can dip around the holidays, making it important for donors to make and keep appointments to ensure a strong and stable blood supply for sick and injured people.
“If you want to express your gratitude this holiday season and do something meaningful for others, try blood donation,” said Fox, “Someone, maybe in your very community, will need blood this holiday season and will be thankful for the gift of life you can give.”
UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN YOUR AREA:
- Saturday, Nov. 16, from noon until 4 p.m. at Spencerville Community Club, located at 5629 CR 68 in Spencerville.
- Sunday, Nov. 17, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at St. Therese Catholic Church in the gymnasium, located at 2304 Lower Huntington Road in Fort Wayne.
- Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 1 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. at Tomkinson BMW, located at 929 Avenue of Autos at the 14/69 Auto Mall in Fort Wayne.
- Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Ruan, located at 3909 Limestone Drive in Fort Wayne.
- Tuesday, Nov. 26, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Resurrection Lutheran Church, located at 14318 Lima Road in Fort Wayne.
- Wednesday, Nov. 27, from 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Glenbrook Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing, located at 3811 Parnell Ave. in Fort Wayne. All who come to donate will receive an American Red Cross t-shirt, while supplies last.
- Wednesday, Nov. 27, from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. at Bethlehem Woods Nursing & Rehabilitation, located at 4430 Elsdale Drive in Fort Wayne. All who come to donate will receive an American Red Cross t-shirt, while supplies last.
- Friday, Nov. 29, from 11 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at Monroeville EMS, located at 103 S. Water Street in Monroeville. All who come to donate will receive an American Red Cross t-shirt, while supplies last.
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:
- Monday and Tuesday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Wednesday and Thursday: noon – 6 p.m.
- Friday: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Saturday: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Platelet pheresis donation (call 1-800-589-8127 or 260-480-8299 to schedule a platelet donation):
- Monday: 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Tuesday: 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Wednesday: 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Thursday: 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Friday: 6:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 6:30 a.m. – noon
- Sunday: 8 a.m. – 2 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:
- Monday and Tuesday: noon – 6 p.m.
- Wednesday: closed
- Thursday through Saturday: 6 a.m. – noon *
* 2nd Thursday of the month: noon – 6 p.m.
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 Indiana and Ohio), 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 60 hospitals. 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 redcrossblood.org.
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