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Red Cross needs donors of all blood types to help maintain a diverse blood supply

by jmaloni

Submitted

Tue, Feb 3rd 2015 01:55 pm

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.

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