American Red Cross provides options for holiday giving
Food. Shelter. Comfort. Hope.
In a season filled with giving, there’s a multitude of ways you can give back to your community through your American Red Cross.
“The gift you give today will be there for the patient needing blood, the family needing shelter, or the child who needs a hug and a blanket,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “Your gifts of time, blood or money can help save the day down the street, across the country and around the world.”
As a humanitarian organization led by volunteers, the Red Cross provides relief to victims of disaster and to help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. As part of that mission, the Red Cross also provides about half of the nation’s blood supply through voluntary blood donations.
Volunteers are always needed, Red Cross officials say, to work in areas related to disaster relief, health and safety, and providing emergency communications to military members and their families. Volunteers are also needed to coordinate and sponsor blood drives or simply roll up their sleeves and give blood or platelets. People can help, too, by sharing motivational stories about their experiences with the Red Cross—either through the organization’s web site, or by joining the conversation on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
“You’re needed in whatever ways you chose to give,” said Whitman. “Not a day goes by that we don’t hear from the people, families, and communities who benefit from your kindness.”
More details and a video on giving blood or platelets through your American Red Cross can be viewed at redcrossblood.org/perfectgift. For information on other ways you can give back to your community this holiday season and beyond, visit redcross.org/gifts or call 1-800-RED CROSS.
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:
- Sunday, Dec. 18, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Best Buy, located at 91 Silhavy in Valparaiso.
- Wednesday, Dec. 21, from noon until 6 p.m. at the American Legion in the Hall, located at 5675 Mulberry Ave. in Portage.
- Thursday, Dec. 22, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Hopewell Mennonite Church in the Meeting Hall, located on SR 49 in Kouts.
- Tuesday, Dec. 27, from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Duneland Health and Wellness in the Fitness Center, located at 810 Michael Drive in Chesterton.
- Tuesday, Dec. 27, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Izaak Walton League in the Dining Hall, located at 1250 Crisman Road in Portage. Please call (219) 762-9974 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Wednesday, Dec. 28, from 2 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at the Horizon Gymnastics Center, located at 1254 Horse Prairie in Valparaiso. This is a Pint Size Heroes blood drive.
- Friday, Dec. 30, from 11:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the YMCA of Portage, located at 3100 Willowcreek Road in Portage. Please email egonzalez@comhs.org to schedule your blood donation appointment.
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. Platelet donors should also be aspirin-free for 48 hours.
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.