Food. Shelter. Comfort. Hope.
In a season filled with giving, there’s a multitude of ways you can give back to your community through your American Red Cross.
“The gift you give today will be there for the patient needing blood, the family needing shelter, or the child who needs a hug and a blanket,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “Your gifts of time, blood or money can help save the day down the street, across the country and around the world.”
As a humanitarian organization led by volunteers, the Red Cross provides relief to victims of disaster and to help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. As part of that mission, the Red Cross also provides about half of the nation’s blood supply through voluntary blood donations.
Volunteers are always needed, Red Cross officials say, to work in areas related to disaster relief, health and safety, and providing emergency communications to military members and their families. Volunteers are also needed to coordinate and sponsor blood drives or simply roll up their sleeves and give blood or platelets. People can help, too, by sharing motivational stories about their experiences with the Red Cross—either through the organization’s web site, or by joining the conversation on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
“You’re needed in whatever ways you chose to give,” said Whitman. “Not a day goes by that we don’t hear from the people, families, and communities who benefit from your kindness.”
To learn more about blood and platelet donation, find a blood drive near you or schedule a donation appointment, please visit redcrossblood.org. For information on other ways you can give back to your community this holiday season and beyond, visit redcross.org/gifts or call 1-800-RED CROSS.
UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN YOUR AREA:
- Monday, Dec. 16, from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Curves, located at 1708 East U.S. Highway 20 in Michigan City.
- Friday, Dec. 20, from 12:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. at Michigan City Public Library in the Conference Room, located at 100 E. Fourth St. in Michigan City.
- Monday, Dec. 23, from noon until 5 p.m. at IU Health La Porte Hospital in the Auditorium, located at 1007 W. Lincolnway in La Porte. Come to donate and receive a $3 lunch coupon courtesy of IU Health La Porte Hospital.
- Friday, Dec. 27, from 8 a.m. until noon at Franciscan St. Anthony Health in St. Francis Hall, located at 301 W. Homer St. in Michigan City. Come to donate and get a 2 ounce brick of Dunkin Donuts® coffee and a coupon for a FREE pound of Dunkin’ Donuts® coffee.
- Saturday, Dec. 28, from 7 a.m. until noon at Sacred Heart Church in the Hall, located at 204 N. Ohio St. in Wanatah. Come to donate and get a 2 ounce brick of Dunkin Donuts® coffee and a coupon for a FREE pound of Dunkin’ Donuts® coffee.
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. Platelet donors should also be aspirin-free for 48 hours.
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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.