Volunteers Honored During American Red Cross Month

A decade into the new century, the American Red Cross continues to build on its core purpose of helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. And for a month each spring, the 129-year-old organization thanks the countless volunteers who have been helping to change lives since 1881.

Every year since 1943, the President of the United States issues a proclamation that designates March as Red Cross Month. The tradition began when Franklin D. Roosevelt appealed to the American public to assist the Red Cross during World War II.

From 1941 to 1945, the American Red Cross collected more than 13 million blood donations through the National Blood Donor Service program. Shortly following the war, the Red Cross introduced its National Blood Program for civilians by opening the first blood collection center in Rochester, N.Y.

“We’ve always been about providing opportunity to help save lives through blood donation,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “Our strength, then as well as now, lies in the active involvement of people who come forward as volunteers to help meet needs in their community and across the country.”

Red Cross Month is marked by celebrations of blood donors, as well as volunteers in areas like disaster relief, health and safety training, support to military members and their families, and blood donations.

“March is a time we can honor the contributions Red Cross volunteers make to our nation,” said Whitman, “It’s a time, too, when we like to encourage more people to get involved through the simple act of blood donation or by volunteering at a blood drive in their community.”

UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN YOUR AREA:
**All presenting donors at the following blood drives will receive a coupon from Dunkin Donuts for one free donut.**

  • Wednesday, March 3, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Real Life Community Church, located at 3134 Swanson Road in Portage.
  • Friday, March 5, from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Porter Hospital Valparaiso Campus, located at 814 LaPorte Ave. in Valparaiso.
  • Friday, March 5, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Opportunity Enterprises in the meeting room, located at 2801 Evans Ave. in Valparaiso. Please call 464-9621, ext. 218 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
  • Monday, March 8, from 12 noon until 6 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, located at 3401 N. Valparaiso St. in Valparaiso.
  • Friday, March 12, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Culver’s, located at 2101 LaPorte Ave. in Valparaiso. All presenting donors will receive a Culver's Frozen Custard coupon good for one pint of frozen custard.
  • Saturday, March 13, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club South Haven Unit, located at 723 Long Run Road in Valparaiso. This is a Pint Size Heroes blood drive. ·
  • Monday, March 15, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at St. Teresa of Avila in Café Manna, located at 1511 LaPorte Ave. 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 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.