Emergencies don’t take a holiday. The American Red Cross urgently needs blood donors to make an appointment now to give and help ensure patients can get the treatment they need at a moment’s notice. In November 2016, a 100-foot maple tree fell on Mike McMahon, causing life-threatening injuries. He needed 11 units of blood during emergency surgery and another seven units to treat complications after. Six weeks following the accident, McMahon was released from the hospital – just in time to spend the holidays with his family.
“I’m grateful for the donors who gave me such an amazing gift – the gift of life,” said McMahon. “I was an occasional blood donor before the accident. Today, I donate as often as I can to help ensure others receive blood when they need it most.”
Now is an important time to give blood. A seasonal decline in donations occurs from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day when donors get busy with family gatherings and travel. In addition, severe winter weather can cause blood drive cancellations and negatively affect the blood supply. Patients like McMahon can’t afford for there to be a shortage of blood.
Give the gift of life – make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
As a special thank-you for helping meet the urgent need, those who come to give Dec. 20 through Jan. 6 will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Dec. 20-Jan. 15:
Benton
Corvallis
12/22/2018: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Timberhill Shopping Center, 2335 NW Kings Blvd
12/27/2018: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Natural Grocers, 1235 NW 10th St
12/28/2018: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Burgerville, 2300 NW 9th Street
1/3/2019: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., NW Hills Community Church, 3300 NW Walnut Blvd
1/3/2019: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., First Alternative Co-Op, 1007 SE 3rd Street
1/4/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Timberhill Athletic Club, 2855 NW 29th
1/7/2019: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Bi-Mart Store #604, 2045 NW 9th St
1/8/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Corvallis Elks Lodge #1413, 1400 NW 9th St
1/9/2019: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 2650 NW Highland Dr.
1/11/2019: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Snap Fitness Corvallis Crossing, 948 NW Circle Blvd
1/14/2019: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church Community Center, 1165 NW Monroe Ave.
1/15/2019: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Church of the Good Samaritan, 333 NW 35th St
1/15/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Life Community Church, 4900 NW Hwy 99 W
Philomath
12/26/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Fire and Rescue, 1035 Main Street
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Coos
Bandon
1/8/2019: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 355 Oregon Ave.
1/11/2019: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Bandon First Baptist Church, 860 2nd Street SE
Coos Bay
12/20/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Bay Area Hospital, 1775 Thompson Rd.
12/21/2018: 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., North Bend Medical Center, 1900 Woodland Drive
1/15/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., First Call Resolution, 161 Anderson Ave
Coquille
1/8/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Coquille Community Building, 115 N Birch
Myrtle Point
1/9/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Maple Elementary School, 413 C Street
North Bend
1/9/2019: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., The Mill Casino, 3201 Tremont Ave
1/10/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Church of Christ, 2761 Broadway
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Douglas
Canyonville
1/15/2019: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Seven Feathers Casino Resort, 146 Chief Miwaleta Lane
Myrtle Creek
12/20/2018: 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Myrtle Creek Community Center, 425 NW 2nd Ave
Roseburg
12/21/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Roseburg Blood Donation Center, 1176 NW Garden Valley Blvd
12/24/2018: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Roseburg Blood Donation Center, 1176 NW Garden Valley Blvd
12/26/2018: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Roseburg Blood Donation Center, 1176 NW Garden Valley Blvd
12/26/2018: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Firehouse Fudge, 316 NW Garden Valley Blvd
12/27/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., United States VA Medical Center - Roseburg, 913 NW Garden Valley Blvd.
12/27/2018: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wal-Mart, 2125 NW Stewart Parkway
12/28/2018: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Roseburg Blood Donation Center, 1176 NW Garden Valley Blvd
12/31/2018: 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Roseburg Blood Donation Center, 1176 NW Garden Valley Blvd
1/2/2019: 1 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Roseburg Blood Donation Center, 1176 NW Garden Valley Blvd
1/3/2019: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., St Joseph Church, 800 W. Stanton St.
1/4/2019: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Roseburg Blood Donation Center, 1176 NW Garden Valley Blvd
1/7/2019: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Roseburg Blood Donation Center, 1176 NW Garden Valley Blvd
1/11/2019: 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Roseburg Blood Donation Center, 1176 NW Garden Valley Blvd
1/14/2019: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Roseburg Blood Donation Center, 1176 NW Garden Valley Blvd
Sutherlin
1/3/2019: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Sutherlin Fire Department, 250 S State St
1/4/2019: 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sutherlin Community Center, 150 S. Willamette St.
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Lane
Eugene
1/10/2019: 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 2117 Franklin Blvd
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Lincoln
Lincoln City
12/20/2018: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Faith Baptist Church Lincoln City, 5750 N Highway 101
1/8/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., LDS - Lincoln City, 3565 W Devils Lake RD
Newport
12/21/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Oregon Coast Bank Newport, 909 SE Bay Blvd.
1/9/2019: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., American Legion Hall Post #116, 424 West Olive St
1/10/2019: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Center For Health Education, 740 SW 9th Street
Yachats
1/11/2019: 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Yachats Community Presbyterian Church, 360 West 7th St
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Linn
Albany
12/20/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion Auxiliary Unit 10, 1215 Pacific Blvd SE
12/26/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., North Albany Community Church, 1273 Thornton Lake Dr NW
12/28/2018: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Mennonite Village, 5353 Columbus St SE
12/28/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Albany Public Library, 2450 14th Ave SE
12/31/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m., Heritage Mall, 1895 14th Ave. SE
1/2/2019: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Safeway, 1990 14th Ave SE
1/3/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., LDS - Albany Stake, 2850 Grand Prairie Rd SE
1/8/2019: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., National Frozen Foods, 745 30th Ave SW
1/9/2019: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Sportsman's Warehouse, 1351 Waverly Drive SE
1/10/2019: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Albany General Hospital, 1046 6th Ave SW
1/10/2019: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., American Legion Auxiliary Unit 10, 1215 Pacific Blvd SE
1/11/2019: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Grace Point Church of the Nazarene, 230 Clover Ridge Road
Brownsville
12/27/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., LDS - Brownsville Ward, 1111 N Main
Lebanon
12/21/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1890 S 2nd St
12/26/2018: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Veterans Care Center of Oregon, 600 North 5th Street
12/28/2018: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Lebanon Senior Center, 80 Tangent St
1/4/2019: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Linn Benton Community College, 44 Industrial Way
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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