The American Red Cross depends on community volunteers to help organize blood drives, providing donors with familiar and convenient locations to save lives. Volunteers are also needed to help educate and inform people on the importance of blood donation.
“We partner with local businesses, big or small, churches and service organizations to host blood drives. There is no cost to sponsor a blood drive. It’s completely free. We provide all support, educational and marketing materials, as well as snacks and beverages,” said Jonathan Atkinson, Porter County Representative for the Indiana-Ohio Region of American Red Cross Blood Services. “It’s a unique way to give back to your community and to save lives.”
“Every two seconds someone in America needs a blood transfusion. The only way a patient in the hospital can receive a blood product is if a volunteer donates his or her blood,” said Gina Avila, Lake County representative for the Indiana-Ohio Region of American Red Cross Blood Services. “With just one donation, a donor can be a hero by helping to save up to three lives, but impact so many more, such as blood recipients’ family and friends,” said Avila.
Each blood donation can be separated into three components (red cells, plasma and platelets) thus possibly saving three separate lives. The need for blood is constant, never taking a holiday. Our mission is to save lives through blood donations. Every day the Indiana-Ohio Region of American Red Cross Blood Services needs 500 units to supply hospitals for patients in need.
The American Red Cross has been a vital blood supplier in the state of Indiana for the past 60 years. American Red Cross Blood Services of Indiana-Ohio distributes more than 130,000 blood products each year to more than 60 hospitals in Indiana and serves more than 50 counties in Indiana through blood collection and distribution.
To sponsor a blood drive or to learn more information, for Lake County, contact (260) 705-7310, and for Porter County, contact (260) 415-3588.
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 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.