School Is Out, Blood Donation Is In

RedCrossLogoPublic 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 some 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 June 30th and be entered into a region-wide monthly drawing for a $500 gasoline gift card.

UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN YOUR AREA:

  • Friday, June 1, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Porter Hospital Valparaiso Campus, located at 814 LaPorte Ave. in Valparaiso.
  • Saturday, June 2, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Washington Evangelical Free Church in the gymnasium, located at 3805 LaPorte Ave. in Valparaiso.
  • Monday, June 4, from noon until 6 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in the Fellowship Hall, located at 2610 N. Campbell in Valparaiso.
  • Saturday, June 9, from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Union Fire & Rescue in the Training Room, located at 267 North 600 West in Valparaiso.
  • Saturday, June 9, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Best Buy, located at 91 Silhavy in Valparaiso. This is a Best Buy Crosstown Challenge blood drive.
  • Sunday, June 10, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Nativity of our Savior in the Fellowship Hall, located at 2949 Willowcreek Road in Portage. This is a Fallen Officer blood drive.
  • Tuesday, June 12, from noon until 6 p.m. at the 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 13, from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in the lower level, located at 434 S. Second St. in Chesterton.
  • Thursday, June 14, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church in the Fellowship Hall, located at 402 E. Indiana Ave. in Kouts.

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 60 hospitals. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies more than 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 join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.