Red Cross needs blood donations

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

The Northeast Chapter of the American Red Cross Indiana Region, which serves a handful of counties in northwest Ohio has put out the call – blood donations are desperately needed.

Isis Chaverri, Regional Communication Director Indiana Region, said the Red Cross typically sees a decrease in donations during the summer months, due to people spending time on vacation or engaging in other summertime activities.

“The blood need doesn’t take a break or vacation, so we are urging donors to come out and roll up a sleeve to help us ensure that we have a healthy blood supply during the summer,” Chaverri said. “We need donors of all blood types to donate and help those who may need transfusions.”

The guidelines for donating blood are fairly simple – donors must be at least 16 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. There is no upper age limit. A donor must be in good health and feeling well on the day of donation. Donors can give blood every 56 days, up to six times per year.

Five blood drives are scheduled to take place in Van Wert during the month of July:

• Thursday, July 2, 12-5 p.m. at Lee Kinstle Sales and Service
• Friday, July 10, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Ohiohealth Van Wert Hospital North
• Friday, July 17, 12:30-5 p.m. at the Wassenberg Art Center
• Friday, July 24, 12-5:30 p.m. at Trinity Friends Church
• Tuesday, July 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. American Legion

To schedule an appointment to give at one of those blood drives, click here.

Anyone who gives through July 12 will receive a classic Red Cross/Looney Tunes T-shirt, while supplies last.

The Northeast Chapter of the American Red Cross Indiana Region serves over 1.3 million people in 17 counties in northeast Indiana including Adams, Allen, Blackford, DeKalb, Grant, Howard, Huntington, Jay, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Miami, Noble, Steuben, Tipton, Wabash, Wells and Whitley, and seven counties in northwest Ohio: Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Mercer, Paulding, Van Wert and Williams.