The American Red Cross urges eligible donors to help ensure a sufficient blood supply for patients by giving blood this February.
During the winter months, inclement winter weather and seasonal illnesses can keep regular donors from giving blood. Healthy donors of all blood types are needed to help maintain an adequate blood supply for patients in their own communities as well as areas where donors were unable to give due to severe winter weather. Individuals with types O, AB, B negative and A negative blood are especially needed.
Donor Loretta Brandon knows how important it is to have a readily available blood supply. Her late husband required transfusions from generous strangers multiple times for health conditions. She gives blood as often as she can. “Every time I give blood, I am filled with a sense of gratitude for all I have and for the fact that I can share with others,” she said.
Make an appointment to help maintain an adequate blood supply for patients in need this winter by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Feb. 16-29, 2016:
American Red Cross Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
Monday, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday, 2 to 7 p.m.; Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Thursday, 2 to 7 p.m.; first Saturday of the month, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Buncombe
Asheville
2/24/2016: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., First Baptist Church, 5 Oak St.
2/28/2016: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Central United Methodist Church, 27 Church St.
Candler
2/22/2016: 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Mountain Credit Union, 1453 Sand Hill Road
Fairview
2/26/2016: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Spring Mountain Community Club, 807 Old Fort Road
Leicester
2/22/2016: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Newfound Baptist Church, 2605 New Leicester Highway
Clay
Hayesville
2/26/2016: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Truett Memorial Baptist Church, 21 Pass St.
Graham
Robbinsville
2/25/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Veteran’s Building, Moose Branch Road
Haywood
Canton
2/25/2016: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Evergreen Packaging, 34 Park St.
Clyde
2/19/2016: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Haywood County Health Department, 157 Paragon Parkway
Hazelwood
2/23/2016: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Hazelwood Elementary School, 1111 Plott Creek Road
Waynesville
2/18/2016: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m., American Legion Post #47, 171 Legion Drive
Henderson
Flat Rock
2/28/2016: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Bethel Wesleyan, 909 Tracy Grove Road
Jackson
Cashiers
2/18/2016: 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cashiers Fire Department, 62 Plastic Plant Road
McDowell
Marion
2/17/2016: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Marion Community Building, 99 North Main St.
Mitchell
Spruce Pine
2/22/2016: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Baptist Church of Spruce Pine, First Baptist Church of Spruce Pine, 125 Tappan St.
Rutherford
Cliffside
2/20/2016: 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., Cliffside Masonic Lodge, Old Main St.
Ellenboro
2/29/2016: 4 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Campfield Baptist Church, 369 Campfield Church Road
Forest City
2/26/2016: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Rutherford County Schools, 382 West Main St.
2/27/2016: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Lowe’s 1788, 184 Lowes Blvd.
Spindale
2/16/2016: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Isothermal Community College, Highway 74 West
Swain
Cherokee
2/17/2016: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cherokee Indian Hospital, Hospital Road
Transylvania
Brevard
2/19/2016: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., State Employee’s Credit Union, 2235 Asheville Highway.
2/21/2016: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Brevard Wesleyan Church, 801 North Broad St.
2/29/2016: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Brevard Community Church, 417 Morris Road
Cedar Mountain
2/27/2016: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Cedar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, 8725 Cascade Lake Road
Yancey
Burnsville
2/16/2016: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Higgins Memorial Methodist Church, 101 N. Main St.
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 (16 with parental consent in some states), 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.