Public encouraged to donate blood around Thanksgiving
Some say Thanksgiving should be more than just a single day. When you donate blood through your American Red Cross, you can give thanks for a lifetime.
“As you reflect on what you are grateful for this holiday season, set aside time to come donate blood,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO 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 units of blood each day to treat emergency and ongoing medical conditions. Locally, about 500 blood donations are needed daily for patients in the 60 hospitals served by the Indiana-Ohio 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 Whitman, “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:
- Wednesday, Nov. 16, from noon until 6 p.m. at Valparaiso University in Harre Union Ballrooms B & C, located at 1509 Campus Drive in Valparaiso. Come to donate and be entered into a drawing for a $50 Visa gift card. Please go to redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code “valpo” to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Friday, Nov. 18, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Portage in the Fellowship Hall, located at 2637 McCool Road in Portage.
- Friday, Nov. 18, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Porter County Career Center in the Health Education Classrooms, located at 1005 N. Franklin St. in Valparaiso.
- Saturday, Nov. 19, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club of Porter County in the Small Gymnasium, located at 354 Jefferson St. in Valparaiso. This is a Pint Size Heroes blood drive.
- Saturday, Nov. 19, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Family Video, located at 2502 Calumet Ave. in Valparaiso. Please call (219) 464-4142 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Monday, Nov. 21, from 3:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at John Simatovich Elementary School in the gymnasium, located at 424 West 500 North in Valparaiso. This is a Pint Size Heroes blood drive.
- Wednesday, Nov. 30, from 9:30 a.m. until noon at Purdue North Central, located at 600 Vale Park Road in Valparaiso.
- Wednesday, Nov. 30, from 2 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. at Porter Starke Services, located at 701 Wall St. in Valparaiso. Please email hrsb@porterstarke.org to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Wednesday, Nov. 30, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the First Christian Church in the Fellowship Hall, located at 1507 Glendale Blvd. 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