RED CROSS (October 24, 2016)…The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood to help stock the shelves before the busy holiday season.
Many regular donors delay giving between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day because of holiday activities. This often causes a drop in donated blood available for patients. Therefore, more donations are needed in the weeks leading up to the holidays to help ensure the blood supply is sufficient through the winter months.
For blood donor Katie Osorio, giving a little bit of time is worth it because she’s giving someone a chance at life. “Someone’s mother, brother, sister, father or the love of someone’s life has been given back to their loved ones all because I gave something that I could. It takes so little from me and gives a world back to another.”
To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors are encouraged to make appointments and complete the RapidPass online health history questionnaire at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass to save time when donating.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Burke County
Connellys Springs
11/3/2016: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., East Burke High School, 3695 East Burke Blvd
Morganton
11/14/2016: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 502 W. Union St.
11/3/2016: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., J. Iverson Riddle Development Center, 300 Enola Rd
Caldwell County
Hudson
11/7/2016: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Center Grove Baptist Church, 3176 Deal Mill Rd.
Lenoir
11/1/2016: 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Mulberry Recreation Center, 720 Mulberry St
11/4/2016: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., First Baptist Church Whitnel, 1201 Connelly Springs Road SW
11/7/2016: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Whitnel Pentecostal Holiness, 1890 Connelly Springs Road
Catawba County
Hickory
11/13/2016: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., First Baptist Church, 339 2nd Avenue NW
11/15/2016: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Lenoir Rhyne College, 7th Avenue @8th St NE
Newton
11/12/2016: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Old St Pauls Lutheran Church, 2035 Old Conover Startown Road
11/14/2016: 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Jacobs Fork Middle School, 3431 Plateau Rd.
11/15/2016: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Friendship Methodist Church, 2900 NC Hwy 16 S
Sherrills Ford
11/15/2016: 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Mt Pleasant Methodist Church, 4136 Mt Pleasant Church Rd
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.