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The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to help ensure a sufficient and diverse blood supply by giving blood this February.
Since the beginning of the year, widespread flu and inclement winter weather in some parts of the country have prevented many regular donors from making or keeping their blood donation appointments. Healthy and diverse blood donors are needed to help maintain a sufficient blood supply.
Diversity among blood donors is important because red blood cells carry markers that determine one's blood type, and certain blood types are unique to specific racial and ethnic groups. Blood must be matched very closely for those patients with rare blood types or for those who need repeated transfusions. Patients are less likely to have complications from blood donated by someone with a similar ethnicity.
All blood types are needed, especially types O negative, A negative and B negative. To learn more about donating blood and to schedule an appointment, download the Red Cross blood donor app, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Erie County
•Akron
Feb. 26: 1-6 p.m., Akron Fire Hall, 1 Main St.
•Buffalo
Feb. 16: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., UB North Student Union
Feb. 16: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave. (donor room)
Feb. 17: 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., Larkin at Exchange Building, 726 Exchange Blvd.
Feb. 17: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave. (donor room)
Feb. 18: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave. (donor room)
Feb. 19: 8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave. (donor room)
Feb. 19: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., University at Buffalo South Harriman Hall, 3435 Main St.
Feb. 20: 8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave. (donor room)
Feb. 20: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Main Place Mall, 390 Main St.
Feb. 21: 8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave. (donor room)
Feb. 22: 8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave. (donor room)
Feb. 23: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave. (donor room)
Feb. 23: 1-6 p.m., Cazenovia Community Resource Center and Library, 155 Cazenovia St.
Feb. 24: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., UB North Student Union
Feb. 24: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave. (donor room)
Feb. 25: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave. (donor room)
Feb. 26: 8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave. (donor room)
Feb. 27: 8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave. (donor room)
Feb. 28: 8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Buffalo Blood Donation Center, 786 Delaware Ave. (donor room)
•Cheektowaga
Feb. 16: noon to 5 p.m., Walden Galleria, 1 Walden Galleria
Feb. 23: 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., AppleTree Realty Holdings LLC, 2875 Union Road No. 22
•Eden
Feb. 26: 1-6 p.m., St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 3487 N. Boston Road
•Grand Island
Feb. 16: 1-6 p.m., Grand Island Knights of Columbus, 1841 Whitehaven Road
•Hamburg
Feb. 16: 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Hamburg Blood Donation Center, 5161 Camp Road
Feb. 17: 2-7 p.m., Hamburg Blood Donation Center, 5161 Camp Road
Feb. 19: 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Hamburg Blood Donation Center, 5161 Camp Road
Feb. 23: 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Hamburg Blood Donation Center, 5161 Camp Road
Feb. 24: 2-7 p.m., Hamburg Blood Donation Center, 5161 Camp Road
Feb. 26: 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Hamburg Blood Donation Center, 5161 Camp Road
Feb. 28: 7 a.m. to noon, Hamburg Blood Donation Center, 5161 Camp Road
•Kenmore
Feb. 18: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kenmore Mercy Hospital, 2950 Elmwood Ave.
•Lackawanna
Feb. 17: 12:30-5:30 p.m., Lackawanna Knights of Columbus, 2838 S. Park Ave.
•Orchard Park
Feb. 19: 1-6 p.m., Orchard Park American Legion Post 567 William Bud Davis Memorial Center, 3740 N. Buffalo Road
Feb. 22: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Bernadette's Roman Catholic Church, 5930 S. Abbott Road
•Springville
Feb. 18: 1-7 p.m., Concord Town Hall, 86 Franklin St.
•Tonawanda
Feb. 21: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Best Fitness, 2309 Eggert Road
•Williamsville
Feb. 16: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
Feb. 18: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
Feb. 19: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
Feb. 20: 8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
Feb. 21: 8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
Feb. 21: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Faith United Church of Christ, 1300 Maple Rd
Feb. 22: 8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
Feb. 23: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
Feb. 25: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
Feb. 26: 12:15-6:45 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
Feb. 27: 8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
Feb. 28: 8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Transitown Blood Donation Center, 4267 Transit Road
Niagara County
•Lockport
Feb. 24: 1-6 p.m., The Dale Association Inc., 33 Ontario St.
•Middleport
Feb. 23: 2-6 p.m., Middleport Firehall, 28 Main St.
•Newfane
Feb. 16: 1-6 p.m., Newfane Town Hall Community Center, 2737 Main St.
•Niagara Falls
Feb. 20: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Seneca Niagara Casino, 310 Fourth St.
•North Tonawanda
Feb. 16: noon to 6 p.m., Mid City Plaza Blood Donation Center, 301 Meadow Drive, Suite No. 81
Feb. 18: noon to 6 p.m., Mid City Plaza Blood Donation Center, 301 Meadow Drive, Suite No. 81
Feb. 21: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mid City Plaza Blood Donation Center, 301 Meadow Drive, Suite No. 81
Feb. 23: noon to 6 p.m., Mid City Plaza Blood Donation Center, 301 Meadow Drive, Suite No. 81
Feb. 25: noon to 6 p.m., Mid City Plaza Blood Donation Center, 301 Meadow Drive, Suite No. 81
•Ransomville
Feb. 24: 2-7 p.m., Ransomville Baptist Church, 2578 Youngstown-Lockport Road
•Sanborn
Feb. 17: 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., Niagara County Community College, 3111 Saunders Settlement Road
How to donate blood
Download the American Red Cross blood donor app, visitredcrossblood.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.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, visit redcross.org or on Twitter at @RedCross.