Thousands of people have responded to the emergency call for blood and platelet donations issued by the American Red Cross in early July, but there continues to be a critical summer blood shortage. Eligible donors of all types are urgently needed

After issuing the emergency call, the Red Cross has experienced a 30 percent increase in blood donation appointments through mid-July. About half of the appointments were scheduled by donors using the free Blood Donor App or at redcrossblood.org. Despite this improvement, blood products are still being distributed to hospitals as fast as donations are coming in, so more donations are needed to meet patient needs and replenish the blood supply

“The blood supply is like a cell phone battery, it constantly needs recharging,” said Maya Franklin of the Carolinas Blood Services Region. “We sincerely appreciate those who have responded to the call to help save lives and encourage those who haven’t to consider rolling up a sleeve and give the gift of life. It only takes about an hour but can mean a lifetime for patients.”

Nearly 61,000 fewer blood donations than needed were given through the Red Cross in May and June, prompting the emergency call for donations in early July. The shortfall was the equivalent of the Red Cross not receiving any blood donations for more than four days.

How to help

To schedule an appointment to donate, use the Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help reduce the time it takes to donate.

As a special thank you, those who come out to give blood or platelets with the Red Cross July 26 through Aug. 31 will be emailed a $5 Target eGiftCard™.*

Who blood and platelet donations help

Blood shortages could lead to delays in patient care, something Arthur Bourget learned firsthand after being diagnosed with leukemia in July 2007. When he arrived for his second blood transfusion, he was told the blood he needed was not available. He waited eight hours for blood to arrive and to receive the transfusion he needed that day.

“One thing that I committed to my wife was that I was going to beat leukemia, no matter what, and I was going to do that,” said Bourget. “But what I wasn’t going to be able to do was survive without the blood that I needed.”

Bourget went into remission following a successful treatment plan, which included 28 blood and 34 platelet transfusions. He has been a faithful advocate for blood donations ever since.

“If it wasn’t for the generosity of volunteer blood donors, I would not be here today,” he said. “My daughter would not have a father, and my wife would not have a husband. Thank you and please give blood. You may never know the life you have saved, but I guarantee they will never forget you.”

Upcoming blood donation opportunities July 25-Aug. 15

Alexander

Taylorsville

8/2/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Salem Lutheran Church, 4005 NC-16 (North)

8/8/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Millersville Baptist Church, 130 Millersville Church Rd

8/11/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., YMCA, 260 Black Oak Ridge Rd

_______________

Burke

 

Morganton

7/25/2017: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Robert L. Patton High School, 701 Enola Rd

7/27/2017: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., City Hall, City Hall, 305 E. Union St.

8/1/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 502 W. Union St.

8/1/2017: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Mt Home Baptist Church, 2272 Mt Home Church Rd

8/3/2017: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., US Post Office Morganton, 320 Sanford Dr

8/10/2017: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., J. Iverson Riddle Development Center, 300 Enola Rd

_______________

Cabarrus

 

Concord

7/26/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Chick Fil A – Concord Mills, 8020 Concord Mills Blvd

7/28/2017: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sea Life Charlotte-Concord Aquarium, 8111 Concord Mills Blvd., Suite 8461

_______________

Caldwell

 

Hudson

7/31/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Center Grove Baptist Church, 3176 Deal Mill Rd.

 

Lenoir

8/3/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Hancock Surgery Center, 1031 Morganton Blvd SW

8/14/2017: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Lowe’s Home Improvement #1509, 1201 Hickory Blvd SE

8/15/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Gamewell Fire Department, 2806 Morganton Blvd

 

Patterson

8/7/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Yadkin Baptist Church, 2044 Roby Martin Rd.

_______________

Catawba

 

Claremont

8/1/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Bethel Lutheran Church, 5759 Bolick Rd

 

Conover

7/25/2017: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Woodlawn Baptist Church, 440 7th St Pl SW

8/8/2017: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Concordia Lutheran, Concordia Lutheran Church, 215 5th Avenue SE

 

Hickory

7/30/2017: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Family Video, 1511 29th Avenue NE

8/8/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Zion Lutheran Church, 1911 Zion Church Road

8/14/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Sandy Ridge Baptist Church, 3702 16th Street NE

8/14/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 2780 North Center St

8/15/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Chick-Fil-A 1247, 1815 Hwy 70 SE

 

Maiden

7/25/2017: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Mt Anderson Baptist Church, 4818 S NC 16

 

Newton

7/25/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., New Hope Moravian Church, 2897 Sandy Ford Road

8/3/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Mt Olive Lutheran Church, 2103 Mt Olive Church Rd

8/11/2017: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Agricultural Resource Center, 1175 South Brady Ave

_______________

Cherokee

 

Murphy

7/26/2017: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Lowe’s Murphy, 198 Bulldog Dr

8/14/2017: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Shepherd of the Mountains, 68 Fairfax Lane

_______________

Cleveland

 

Grover

8/8/2017: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 403 Cleveland Ave

 

Shelby

8/14/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Brookdale Senior Living Solutions, 1425 E Marion Street

8/15/2017: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Shelby Presbyterian Church, 226 E. Graham St

_______________

Gaston

 

Gastonia

8/15/2017: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., American Red Cross, 190 S. Oakland

 

Mount Holly

8/4/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Goshen Free Will Baptist Church, 1300 Catawba Ave

_______________

Iredell

 

Harmony

7/30/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Harmony United Methodist, 136 W. Memorial Hwy

 

Mooresville

7/27/2017: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Liberty Baptist Church, 171 johnson dairy rd

7/31/2017: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Golds Gym, 191W Plaza Drive D

8/3/2017: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Mooresville High School, 659 E. Center Ave

 

Statesville

7/26/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Statesville Public Library, 201 Tradd St.

7/27/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Lowe’s 0458, 140 North Pointe Blvd

8/1/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., 24/7 Total Fitness Statesville, 121 Mt. Herman Road

8/7/2017: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Nationwide Insurance Griffin Agency, 125 E. Front Street

8/7/2017: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Beulah Baptist, 1851 Old Mountain Rd.

8/15/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Landmark of God, 2200 E. Broad St.

 

Union Grove

8/6/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Union Grove Christian Church, 1851 W. Memorial Hwy

8/13/2017: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Union Grove United Methodist, 1331 Sloans Mill Rd.

_______________

Lincoln

 

Iron Station

7/31/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Faith Baptist Church, 5194 Old Plank Road

 

Lincolnton

7/25/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Family Video, 1407  E. Main St

_______________

Mecklenburg

 

Charlotte

7/25/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

7/26/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

7/27/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

7/27/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Cranfield Academy, 11745 Providence Road

7/28/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

7/29/2017: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, 517 Baldwin Ave.

7/29/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

7/29/2017: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Gaffney Health Services, 4935 Albemarle Rd

7/30/2017: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 3016 Providence Rd.

7/30/2017: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., St. Francis UMC, 4200 McKee Rd.

7/30/2017: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

7/31/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

8/1/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

8/2/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

8/3/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

8/4/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

8/4/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., 9Round, 4841 Shopton Road

8/4/2017: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., In Honor of Franklin Wong, %Rhino Market, 1500 W Morehead Street

8/5/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

8/6/2017: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

8/7/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

8/8/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

8/9/2017: 6:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., American Red Cross National Testing Lab, 13500 – A South Point Blvd

8/9/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

8/10/2017: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Department of Social Services, 301 Billingsley Rd.

8/10/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

8/11/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

8/12/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

8/13/2017: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1000 East Morehead St.

8/13/2017: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

8/14/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

8/15/2017: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Ally, 440 South Church Street

8/15/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Charlotte Blood Donation Center, 2425 Park Road

 

Huntersville

7/28/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Huntersville Blood Donation Center, 9800 Kincey Avenue, Suite 110

7/29/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Huntersville Blood Donation Center, 9800 Kincey Avenue, Suite 110

7/31/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Huntersville Blood Donation Center, 9800 Kincey Avenue, Suite 110

7/31/2017: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Chick-fil-A Huntersville, 16915 Statesville Rd

8/4/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Huntersville Blood Donation Center, 9800 Kincey Avenue, Suite 110

8/5/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Huntersville Blood Donation Center, 9800 Kincey Avenue, Suite 110

8/6/2017: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Harvest Community Church, 13301 Eastfield Rd

8/7/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Huntersville Blood Donation Center, 9800 Kincey Avenue, Suite 110

8/11/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Huntersville Blood Donation Center, 9800 Kincey Avenue, Suite 110

8/12/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Huntersville Blood Donation Center, 9800 Kincey Avenue, Suite 110

8/14/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Huntersville Blood Donation Center, 9800 Kincey Avenue, Suite 110

 

Matthews

8/5/2017: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Pleasant Plains Baptist Church, 3316 Pleasant Plains Rd.

8/11/2017: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Chick-fil-A Matthews, 9905 Matthews Park Dr

 

Mint Hill

8/12/2017: 7 a.m. – 12 p.m., Philadelphia Presbyterian, 11501 Bain School Rd

_______________

Montgomery

 

Candor

8/9/2017: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Macedonia Presbyterian, 3269 Candor Troy Rd

_______________

Richmond

 

Hamlet

7/27/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Calvary Baptist Church Hamlet, 406 McDonald Ave

 

Rockingham

8/4/2017: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Rockingham Masonic Lodge 495, 1107 Fayetteville Rd.

8/8/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Family Video Rockingham, 1327 Fayetville Rd

_______________

Stanly

 

Albemarle

8/4/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Christ Episcopal Church, 428 Pee Dee Ave

_______________

Union

 

Monroe

7/27/2017: 1:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., American Red Cross Chapter Monroe, 608 East Franklin Street

8/7/2017: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Zion United Methodist Church, 1521 Old Fish Road

8/8/2017: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Hope Second Advent Christian, 6804 Morgan Mill Road

 

Waxhaw

8/1/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Mary Elizabeth Baptist Church, 3703 Mary Elizabeth Church Road

SC

Chester

 

Chester

8/3/2017: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Roses Express, 1841 JA Cochran Bypass

_______________

Lancaster

 

Fort Mill

7/29/2017: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Southern Spirits, 9989 Charlotte Hwy

8/5/2017: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Bojangles Indian Land, 8327 Collins Road

 

Lancaster

7/26/2017: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Chick-fil-A Lancaster, 901 Highway 9 Bypass West

8/7/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., White Springs Baptist Church, 1249 Grace Avenue

8/11/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Church of Good Shepherd, 1005 University Drive

_______________

York

 

Fort Mill

8/3/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., St. John’s United Methodist Church, 130 Tom Hall Street

8/13/2017: 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Fort Mill Moose Lodge, 1676 Harris Rd

8/15/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Unity Presbyterian Church, 303 Tom Hall Street

 

Lake Wylie

8/10/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., All Saints Catholic Church, 553 Pole Branch Rd.

 

Rock Hill

8/2/2017: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., York County Library System, 138 East Black Street

 

York

8/10/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Beth Shiloh Presbyterian Church, 1184 N. Shiloh Rd.

 

What to know about giving blood

To make an appointment or more information, simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). 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 donors can now 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, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.

 

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.

 

* Restrictions apply. Additional information and details are available at redcrossblood.org/summer. The Bullseye Design, Target and Target GiftCard are registered trademarks of Target Brands, Inc. Terms and conditions are applied to gift cards. Target is not a participating partner in or sponsor of this offer.