Blood donations from volunteer donors are high on the wish list for hospital patients and their families this holiday season.
“We’re inviting community members to set aside a little bit of time to give the gift of life during the holidays,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “Every day, people need blood products for the care and treatment of serious diseases, trauma and accidents. That need doesn’t go away with the season. In fact, it sometimes increases.”
More than 39,000 pints of blood are needed daily in the United States. Donations of all blood types are needed, but type O is in high demand since it can be transfused to people with other blood types.
Donors who give through the Red Cross help supply blood to patients in about 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. Those donations, Red Cross officials say, make a difference to patients within the immediate community, as well as to patients who travel outside the community for medical care.
The stability of the nation’s blood supply depends on volunteer donors who give consistently year-round. Although 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood at any given time, a very small percent actually do.
“In the time it might take to wrap a few gifts or send out holidays cards, you could help give someone a second chance at life,” said Whitman. “That’s a powerful gift, and something worth making time for.”
UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN YOUR AREA:
- Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at First Christian Church in the Fellowship Hall, located at 1507 Glendale Blvd. in Valparaiso.
- Thursday, Dec. 3, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church in the Fellowship Hall, located at 402 E. Indiana Ave. in Kouts.
- Friday, Dec. 4, from 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Portage High School in the gymnasium, located at 6450 E. Highway 6 in Portage.
- Friday, Dec. 4, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Porter Hospital Valparaiso Campus in the Patio Room, located at 814 LaPorte Ave. in Valparaiso.
- Saturday, Dec. 5, from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Union Fire and Rescue in the Training Room, located at 267 N. 600 W. in Valparaiso.
- Sunday, Dec. 6, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in the gymnasium, located at 638 N. Calumet Road in Chesterton.
- Monday, Dec. 7, from 12 noon until 6 p.m. at the Eagles Lodge in the Social Hall, located at 805 Elm St. in Valparaiso.
- Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at The Gathering Place in the Meeting Room, located at 131 N. Main St. in Hebron.
- Thursday, Dec. 10, from 12 noon until 6 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in the Meeting Hall, located at 106 E. 1100 N. in Chesterton.
- Friday, Dec. 11, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Portage in the Fellowship Hall, located at 2637 McCool Road in Portage.
- Saturday, Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Washington Evangelical Free Church in the gymnasium, located at 3805 LaPorte Ave. in Valparaiso.
How to Donate Blood
To schedule an appointment to donate please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or visit IndianaOhioRedCross.org for more information. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), 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.