Honor blood donors, sponsor blood drives, encourage others to give
January is the perfect time to honor the people who help others through the simple act of giving blood.
Since 1970, January has been known as National Blood Donor Month. It’s a time when blood organizations like the American Red Cross pay tribute to the nearly 11 million people who give blood each year, and encourage others to start the New Year off right by coming to give the gift of life.
“Blood donors bring hope and promise to hospital patients who may need blood for their very life,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “Donors are people like you who play a vital role in modern health care by helping ensure hospitals have blood for patients.”
January is a challenging time for blood donation because cold and snowy weather and busy post-holiday schedules can make it difficult for blood donors to keep appointments. Regardless of the time of year, hospital patients nationwide need about 44,000 blood donations daily for cancer care, surgeries, and the treatment of serious diseases and trauma.
The Red Cross encourages donors to make and keep appointments, both for convenience and to reinforce the feeling of commitment. Community members can also contribute to the blood supply by organizing or volunteering at a blood drive, or by suggesting blood donation to their family and friends.
“If volunteering in your community is on your list of resolutions, you can meet it by simply giving blood or recruiting others to give, too,” said Whitman. “Donating blood is a great way to make a lifetime of difference in just a little more than an hour’s worth of your time.”
Come to donate from Dec. 1 – Jan. 31 and be entered into a region-wide drawing for a $1,000 Visa gift card.
UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN YOUR AREA:
- Tuesday, Jan. 3, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Liberty Bible Church in the gymnasium, located at 824 N. Calumet Ave. in Chesterton.
- Thursday, Jan. 5, from 2:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at Faith Memorial Lutheran Church, located at 753 N. Calumet in Valparaiso.
- Friday, Jan. 6, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Washington Township High School in the Media Room & Library, located at 381 East SR 2 in Valparaiso.
- Friday, Jan. 6, from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Porter Hospital Valparaiso Campus in the Patio Room, located at 814 LaPorte Ave. in Valparaiso.
- Sunday, Jan. 8, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Nativity of our Savior in the Fellowship Hall, located at 2949 Willowcreek Road in Portage. Please call 762-4858 to schedule your blood donation appointment for this Blood of the Martyrs Pint Size Heroes blood drive.
- Monday, Jan. 9, from noon until 6 p.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church in the Social Hall, located at 1855 W. Harrison Blvd. in Valparaiso. This is a Blood of the Martyrs Pint Size Heroes blood drive.
- Monday, Jan. 9, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at St. Peter Lutheran Church in the Social Hall, located at 6540 Central Ave. in Portage.
- Tuesday, Jan. 10, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Central Baptist Church in the gymnasium, located at 704 West 700 North in Hobart.
- Tuesday, Jan. 10, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in the Fellowship Hall, located at 202 W. Church St. in Hebron.
- Thursday, Jan. 12, from 3:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at Central Christian Church, located at 1808 Campbell St. in Valparaiso.
- Friday, Jan. 13, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in the Fellowship Hall, located at 2637 McCool Road in Portage.
- Friday, Jan. 13, from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Kouts High School in the Auditorium, located at 302 E. College Ave. in Kouts. Come to donate a receive a coupon for a free pint of frozen custard courtesy of Culver’s in Valparaiso.
- Saturday, Jan. 14, from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at Walmart, located at 3400 E. Morthland Dr. in Valparaiso.
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.