As the American Red Cross responds to Hurricane Florence, providing food, shelter, and comfort to those affected, blood and platelet donors are urged to give when it’s safe to travel.
People can also help by making a financial donation to support relief efforts.
Hurricane’s impact on blood and platelet donations
Hurricane Florence’s wrath left catastrophic damage behind and also took a toll on blood and platelet donations. Nearly 200 Red Cross blood drives in the Southeast were forced to cancel, resulting in more than 5,200 uncollected blood and platelet donations. In North Carolina, 57 blood drives were called off due to the storm, causing nearly 2,100 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected.
“Natural disasters like hurricanes can disrupt blood drives and prevent donors from giving, but hospital patients still depend on lifesaving transfusions,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Blood Services. “There is an especially critical need for platelets to help cancer patients and type O blood donations for ongoing patient care and emergencies. Every donation can be a lifeline for patients.”
How to help
As conditions improve, donors of all blood types are urged to make an appointment to give blood or platelets and replenish the blood supply. Appointments can be made by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Financial donations are also needed and allow the Red Cross to provide disaster relief immediately. Help people affected by Hurricane Florence by visiting RedCross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word FLORENCE to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Up-to-date information about how the Red Cross is responding to Hurricane Florence is available at RedCross.org.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities
Henderson
Etowah
9/29/2018: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Etowah Lions Club, 447 Etowah School Road
10/11/2018: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., The Promise Center, 6508 Brevard Rd.
Hendersonville
9/22/2018: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Egolf of Hendersonville, 1325 Spartenburg Hwy
10/15/2018: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., YMCA Hendersonville, 810 6th Ave. W.
10/15/2018: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Henderson County Offices, 211 1st Avenue East
_______________
Transylvania
Brevard
10/9/2018: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Brevard Community Church, 417 Morris Road
_______________
Buncombe
Asheville
9/20/2018: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Asheville Fire & Police Department, 100 Court Plaza, PO Box 7148
9/21/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
9/22/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
9/23/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
9/23/2018: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Woodfin Volunteer Fire Department, 20 New Street
9/24/2018: 12:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
9/25/2018: 9:45 a.m. – 5 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
9/26/2018: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
9/27/2018: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., The Van Winkle Law Firm, 11 N. Market Street
9/28/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
9/28/2018: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Country Club of Asheville, 170 Windsor Road
9/29/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
9/30/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
10/1/2018: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., WCU ABSN Chapter of Association of Nursing Students, 28 Schenck Parkway, Suite 300
10/1/2018: 12:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
10/2/2018: 9:45 a.m. – 5 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
10/3/2018: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
10/5/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
10/5/2018: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Ingles of Reynolds, 225 Charlotte Hwy
10/5/2018: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Johnston Elementary School, 230 Johnston Boulevard
10/6/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
10/7/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
10/7/2018: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Ingles Markets, 863 Brevard Rd
10/8/2018: 12:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
10/8/2018: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., West Asheville Baptist Church, 926 Haywood Road
10/9/2018: 9:45 a.m. – 5 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
10/10/2018: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
10/12/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
10/13/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
10/14/2018: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
10/14/2018: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., St. Eugenes Catholic Church, 72 Culvern Street
10/15/2018: 12:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
Barnardsville
10/11/2018: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Barnardsville Elementary School, 20 Hillcrest Drive
Black Mountain
9/28/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Black Mountain Fire Department, 106 Montreat Rd
10/4/2018: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, 117 Montreat Road
Fairview
10/4/2018: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Spring Mountain Community Club, 807 Old Fort Road
Leicester
10/8/2018: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Newfound Baptist Church, 2605 New Leicester Highway
Weaverville
10/4/2018: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Brookstone Church Weaverville, 90 Griffee Rd.
_______________
Cherokee
Murphy
10/8/2018: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Shepherd of the Mountains, 68 Fairfax Lane
10/9/2018: 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Peachtree Memorial Baptist Church, 1650 North Carolina 141
_______________
Clay
Hayesville
9/21/2018: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Hayesville Presbyterian Church, 73 Hiawassee St.
10/13/2018: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., First Free Will Baptist Church, First Free Will Baptist, 259 Tusquittee Street
_______________
Haywood
Canton
10/11/2018: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Town of Canton Armory, 71 Penland St
Clyde
9/27/2018: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Haywood Regional Medical Center Health & Fitness Center-Classrooms, 75 Leroy George Road
Hazelwood
10/9/2018: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Hazelwood Elementary School, 1111 Plott Creek Road
Waynesville
9/24/2018: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Ratcliffe Cove Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 1300 Ratcliff Cove Road
10/15/2018: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Masonic Lodge Waynesville, 435 East Marshall Street
_______________
Jackson
Cullowhee
10/1/2018: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Western Carolina University Hinds Univ Center, Highway 107
10/2/2018: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Western Carolina University Hinds Univ Center, Highway 107
Sylva
9/21/2018: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Lowe’s 2257 Sylva, 1716 North Main Street
9/21/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 77 Jackson St
10/5/2018: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Jackson County Department on Aging, 100 County Services Park
_______________
Macon
Franklin
9/20/2018: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., First Baptist Church Franklin, 69 Iotla Street
_______________
McDowell
Marion
9/30/2018: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Concord United Methodist Church, 8066 Old Linville Road
10/6/2018: 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Lowe’s 1922 Marion, 480 US Hwy 70
10/9/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., State Employee Credit Union, 1004 W Tate Street
10/10/2018: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Marion Community Building, 99 North Main Street
Nebo
10/4/2018: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Nebo Elementary School, 254 Nebo School Rd
_______________
Mitchell
Spruce Pine
10/15/2018: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Baptist Church of Spruce Pine, 125 Tappan Street
_______________
Polk
Columbus
9/27/2018: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Womack Building, 40 Courthouse Square
Saluda
9/27/2018: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., First Baptist Church of Saluda, 213 Henderson St,
_______________
Rutherford
Forest City
9/27/2018: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, 250 Hudlow Rd
Spindale
9/20/2018: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Spindale House, 119 Tanner St