Red Cross blood drive Day of Caring event

Submitted information

Thousands of blood donations are needed each and every day to help meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients, children with blood disorders and others. To help make a difference, the community is invited to give blood with the American Red Cross at the Van Wert Day of Caring blood drive on Friday, September 30, from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.

The blood drive will be held in the Family Life Center of Trinity Friends Church, 605 N. Franklin St. in Van Wert.

This special blood drive is part of the United Way Day of Caring in Van Wert, which promotes community service. All those who come to donate blood at this blood drive will receive a Day of Caring T-shirt and food specially prepared by Vantage Career Center. The Red Cross is seeking 180 donors to roll up a sleeve and give, which could potentially touch the lives of up to 540 hospital patients.

“Van Wert is a caring community, and what better way for its residents to show they care than by helping patients in need and giving blood at the Day of Caring Blood Drive?” said Marianne Hardesty, account manager for the Red Cross.

Every two seconds in the United States blood and platelets are needed to respond to patient emergencies. The Red Cross must collect approximately 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 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, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.