Area residents can help keep blood products ready for those in need of lifesaving transfusions by giving blood with the American Red Cross. Emergencies often grab headlines, but the need for blood is constant, especially in October. Donation appointments can often drop quickly with people settling into busy fall routines and making plans around upcoming school breaks. Donors of all blood types are asked to make an appointment to donate now.
Those who give blood, platelets or plasma from October 20 to 31, will receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice, plus automatic entry for a chance to win one of three $5,000 gift cards. See RedCrossBlood.org/Harvest for details.
The following blood drives are scheduled this month:
•Wednesday, October 22, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 102.3 Proclaim FM, 7112 Angola Road
•Saturday, October 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Epworth United Methodist Church, 4855 West Central Avenue
•Friday, October 31, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at ProMedica Bay Park Hospital, 2801 Bay Park Drive, Oregon Appointments also can be scheduled to donate blood at the Red Cross Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway, Toledo.
Hours are Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
To schedule an appointment to donate, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-733-2767.
A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.
