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Red Cross: Urgent Need for Blood Donations - Now

Last updated on Monday, November 26, 2018

(UNDATED) - The American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood and platelet donors to give now to ensure blood is available for medical treatments and emergencies during the holiday season.

Blood and platelet donations often decline during the holidays. Regular donors are busy with holiday activities, and travel and severe winter weather may cause blood drive cancellations. Yet donations remain critical for patients like 4-year-old Wyatt Monacelli who is in the midst of intense chemotherapy treatments for leukemia. He has received a number of transfusions since his diagnosis in June and will likely need more.

"We are fortunate to have had so many donors give the gift of life to our child so far throughout the course of his treatment, and even more so, we are lucky to have had a supply of blood available for him when he needed it," said Julianna Monacelli, Wyatt's mother.

Donors are urged to give now to ensure that families like Wyatt's don't have to worry about the availability of blood this winter. In thanks for helping meet the urgent need around the holidays, all those who come to donate blood or platelets now through Dec. 19, 2018, will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. (Restrictions apply; see amazon.com/gc-legal. More information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.)

Make an appointment to donate blood or platelets by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Another way to help keep the blood supply strong is to host a Red Cross blood drive this winter. To learn more about hosting a blood drive and to sign up, visit RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Nov. 26-Dec. 19:
Delaware County
Daleville

12/3/2018: 3 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Daleville Elementary School, 8600 S. Bronco Drive

Muncie

11/29/2018: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Indiana University School of Medicine - Edmund F. Ball Medical Education Center, 221

North Celia Ave.

12/10/2018: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Pruis Hall, McKinley Avenue

12/16/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., YMCA Northwest, 3500 N. Chadam Lane

Hamilton County
Carmel

12/1/2018: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Venture Christian Church, 14501 Hazel Dell Pkwy

12/2/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kroger - Carmel, 1217 South Range Line Road

Hendricks County
Avon

12/19/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Co-Alliance, 5250 E US Hwy 36, Building 1000

Madison County
Pendleton

12/17/2018: 2 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Fall Creek Christian Church, 1102 W 700 S

Marion County
Beech Grove

12/4/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Hornet Park Community Center, 5245 Hornet Avenue

Indianapolis

11/26/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., American Red Cross, 1510 North Meridian

11/27/2018: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Butler University - Robertson Hall, 4600 Sunset Ave

11/27/2018: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Benjamin Harrison YMCA, 5736 Lee Road

11/28/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., IUPUI - School of Nursing, 600 Barnhill Drive

11/30/2018: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Gleaners Food Bank, 3737 Waldamere Avenue

11/30/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., IUPUI - LGBTQ, 420 University Blvd.

12/13/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., IndyStar, 130 S. Meridian Street

12/18/2018: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Delta Air Lines, 7800 Col. H. Weir Cook Memorial Drive

Wayne County
Richmond

11/29/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Indiana University East, 2325 Chester Blvd

12/9/2018: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Dennis Middle School, 222 NW 7th Street

Bartholomew County
Columbus

11/27/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Bartholomew County Library, 536 5th Street

11/28/2018: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Developmental Services Inc., 2920 10th Street

Decatur County
Greensburg

12/6/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Decatur County Memorial Hospital, 720 N. Lincoln Street.

Greene County
Linton

12/11/2018: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Linton Public Library, 95 SE 1st St

Jennings County
North Vernon

12/18/2018: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Senior Citizens Center, 515 Buckeye Street

Johnson County
Greenwood

12/15/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Kid's Kicking Cancer - Greenwood Christian Church, 2045 Averitt Road

Martin County
Loogootee

12/13/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., St. Johns Catholic Church, 408 Church Street

Shoals

12/12/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Shoals Christian Church, 602 N. Main Street

Monroe County
Bloomington

11/26/2018: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Indiana Memorial Union Building, 900 E. 7th St.

11/28/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.

11/29/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.

11/30/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.

12/1/2018: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.

12/3/2018: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Indiana University - Indiana Memorial Union, 900 E. 7th Street

12/5/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.

12/6/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Ivy Tech Community College, 200 Daniels Way

12/6/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.

12/7/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.

12/8/2018: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.

12/11/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, 2700 E. Rogers Road

12/12/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.

12/13/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.

12/14/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.

12/15/2018: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.

12/18/2018: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Monroe County Public Library, 303 East Kirkwood Ave

12/19/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.

Shelby County
Shelbyville

12/17/2018: 5:30 a.m. - 11 a.m., Pilkington North America, 300 Northridge Dr.

Vigo County
Terre Haute

12/14/2018: 4 p.m. - 8 p.m., Honey Creek Mall, 3401 South Highway 41

Other donation opportunities:

November 29th from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at St. Meinrad School of Theology, 200 Hill Drive in Saint Meinrad
December 9th from 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. at St. Celestine Catholic Church, 6864 East State Road 164 in Celestine
December 10th from 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 425 South Main St. in Ferdinand
December 11th from 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. at the Free Methodist Church, 1155 Troy Road in Washington
December 14th from 2:30 - 7:30 at the First Mennonite Church, 8002 E 550 N. in Montgomery
December 16th from 8 a.m. - noon at the C K of A Hall, 1159 W. 1100 S. in Ferdinand
December 18th from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. at Harvest Community Fellowship, 200 W. Main St. in Washington

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 in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), 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 and platelet donors can 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, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

Volunteers needed
Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross is to become a volunteer transportation specialist and deliver lifesaving blood products to local area hospitals. Volunteer transportation specialists play a very important role in ensuring an ample blood supply for patients in need by transporting blood and blood products. For more information and to apply for a volunteer transportation specialist position, visit rdcrss.org/driver.

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.

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