Blood Shortage Prompts Red Cross to Issue Urgent Call for Eligible Donors of All Blood Types

The American Red Cross saw a dip in the number of blood drives held during the beginning of July and it has prompted them to issue an urgent call for eligible donors of all blood types.

According to a press release, the Red Cross delivers blood donations to 80 hospitals across the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services region and needs an average of 500 blood donations each day to support patient needs. Continue reading

Residents Affected by Flood Waters Attend Informational Meeting

Some Marshall County residents are still without shelter as they sift through wreckage of the place they formerly called home.

Several representatives from disaster relief organizations reminded residents of the efforts of volunteers to help put back the pieces after the devastation. Linda Yoder with the Long Term Recovery organization said 2-1-1 is available to assist with any questions and help direct victims to the best resources for specific issues.

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Emergency Response Vehicles Deliver Food and Clean-Up Kits Around Indiana

On Wednesday, Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles started delivering food and supplies to flood-affected areas around Indiana, including the counties of Marshall, Starke and Pulaski.

Local Red Cross Volunteer Sherry Fagner spent the beginning of this week working with the Mass Care Feeding League at Red Cross Headquarters in South Bend, organizing contracts with areas requesting assistance and preparing kits to deliver to the spots that were hit the hardest by the recent floods. Continue reading

Blood and Platelet Shortage Has Reached a Critical Level, Donors Needed

Recent severe weather conditions have resulted in multiple blood drive cancellations, causing the Red Cross to declare that the blood and platelet shortage has reached a critical level.

According to a press release from the organization, no matter the weather is like, every day the Red Cross has to collect more than 13,000 blood and platelet donations to help meet the needs of patients. Due to the winter weather conditions in January, more than 550 blood drives were forced to cancel causing over 16,500 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected.

Red Cross Communications Manager Rodney Wilson said currently, blood and platelet donations are being distributed to hospitals faster than they’re coming in. Continue reading

Red Cross Blood Mobile will be at Culver Middle/High School Thursday + Additional January Opportunities

The Red Cross Blood Mobile will be stationed at Culver Middle/High School from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 11th.

If you’re unable to attend Thursday’s blood drive, or if you wish to make multiple donations in January, there are a few other local opportunities available this month.

The Red Cross has a blood drive scheduled at the Community Wellness Center of Winamac, formerly the Pulaski County YMCA, from 12:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. ET on Friday, January 12th. Continue reading

Upcoming Local Red Cross Blood Drives

The Red Cross is always in need of blood donations. However, in the aftermath of the recent natural disasters that have impacted different portions of the country, it is vital to have a wide variety of blood types from a plethora of donors.

Some blood types are unique to certain racial and ethnic groups, so having an assorted blood supply is important to meet the medical needs of an increasingly diverse patient population. Red Cross reports that patients are less likely to experience complications from blood donated by someone of a similar ethnicity. Some local blood donation opportunities are coming up during the month of October. Continue reading

American Red Cross Giving Day 2015

#AllIn1DayApproximately 200 times a day the American Red Cross helps a family affected by disaster. Finally, you have a chance to help the ultimate helpers. Today is the first ever ‘Giving Day’, launched by the Red Cross to encourage people across the country to donate to ensure help is available wherever and whenever tragedy may strike. The theme of this 24-hour national fund-raising campaign is “All In One Day” because the Red Cross is “all in” every day, helping people to get back on their feet. Continue reading