Public encouraged to reconnect and give throughout summer
Summer means sun, fun and sometimes, a drop in blood donations. That’s because school’s out, and donors who regularly give throughout the academic year might wait until fall before donating blood again.
High school and college students donate about 20 percent of the blood collected through the American Red Cross. Many give at scheduled drives at their high schools and colleges, typically held two to three times during the traditional school year. And when those drives stop, most students probably won’t think about going to a summer drive, or hosting a blood drive of their own.
“We encourage everyone who can to connect with friends and family, then pick a date to donate blood and help keep the blood supply strong,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “You’ll find Red Cross blood drives at churches, community centers, businesses and even at some schools with summer sessions. Perhaps there’s a drive in a town you’ve never visited, or there’s a special occasion you want to honor by hosting a drive of your own.”
Current and potential blood donors will also find a wealth of opportunity to build a virtual community through the growing Red Cross presence on Facebook, You Tube, Twitter, Flickr and foursquare.
“Just because summer is here, it doesn’t mean donating blood is on vacation, too,” said Whitman. “You might find there’s a lot of fun to be had in donating blood, or even sponsoring a blood drive of your own.”
Come to donate June 1 through September 11 and be entered into a region-wide drawing to win Free Gas for a Year ($3000 gift card)!
UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN YOUR AREA:
- Friday, June 3, 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, June 4, from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Washington Evangelical Free Church in the gymnasium, located at 3805 LaPorte Ave. in Valparaiso.
- Monday, June 6, from noon until 6 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in the Fellowship Hall, located at 2610 N. Campbell in Valparaiso.
- Wednesday, June 8, from noon until 6 p.m. at Porter County Expo Center in the Banquet Room, located at 215 E. Division St. in Valparaiso. This is a Fallen Officer blood drive.
- Wednesday, June 8, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Ivy Tech Community College, located at 3100 Ivy Tech Drive in Valparaiso. Please email agabbertstrang@ivytech.edu to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Saturday, June 11, from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Union Fire & Rescue, located at 267 North 600 West in Valparaiso.
- Wednesday, June 15, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the First Christian Church in the Fellowship Hall, located at 1507 Glendale Blvd. in Valparaiso.
- Wednesday, June 15, from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the YMCA, located at 1201 Cumberland Crossing Drive in Valparaiso. Come to donate and receive a Vans Warped Tour VIP pass. When used with a purchased ticket, the VIP pass allows special access to meet and greet with select bands and be entered into a region-wide drawing for a "Warped Tour Experience" which includes two free tickets to the July 7 concert at Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville and meet and greet with select bands. Twenty donors will win from May 2 to June 24.
- Wednesday, June 15, from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the American Legion, located at 5675 Mulberry Ave. in Portage.
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 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