Honor the History, Join the Giving: March is Red Cross Month

Years can be counted. Timelines can be drawn. But the number of lives affected throughout the history of the American Red Cross is boundless.

Each spring, the President of the United States acknowledges the reach of the Red Cross through an official proclamation that declares March as Red Cross Month. It’s a time, Red Cross officials say, to recognize the work of current volunteers, and to encourage more community members to donate blood and become involved in the various service areas that help change lives.

”We touch lives down the street, across the country and around the world,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “And it’s your support that allows us to be there every day for the millions of people who depend on us during their time of need.”

In 1881, 60-year-old Clara Barton launched the American Red Cross based on a European movement that provided relief and protection to wounded soldiers. Barton opened the first Red Cross chapter in Dansville, New York, and within the year, the organization responded to its first large-scale disaster in Michigan. In 1889, the Johnstown flood called for the organization’s largest response yet, with volunteers providing food, shelter and medical care to 25,000 victims.

Now, 131 years later, the Red Cross continues to help individuals and families prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Red Cross Month celebrates the services and volunteers in areas like blood donation, disaster relief, health and safety training, and support to military members and their families. The Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region is among 36 Red Cross Blood Regions nationwide, and contributes to collecting more than 6 million units of blood from about 3.5 million blood donors each year.

“Whatever way you give – be it through blood donation, volunteerism or financial contribution – you’ll feel good knowing you’re helping to change lives,” said Sharyn Whitman. “Without people like you, there would be no American Red Cross.”

UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD
DRIVES IN YOUR AREA:

·         Monday, March 5, from 1:15 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. at Cummins Crosspoint, located at 3415 W. Coliseum Blvd. in Fort Wayne.   Please call 482-3691 to schedule your blood donation appointment.

·         Monday, March 5, from 1:15 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. at Coventry Meadows Assisted Living, located at 7833 W. Jefferson Blvd. in Fort Wayne.

·         Tuesday, March 6, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Resurrection Lutheran Church, located at 14318 Lima Road in Fort Wayne.  Please call 637- 3724 to schedule your blood donation appointment.

·         Thursday, March 8, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Coldwell Banker Roth Wehrly Graber in the

Conference Room, located at 5503 Coventry Lane in Fort Wayne.  Please call 341-0380, ext. 8121 or 459-4639 to schedule your blood donation appointment.

·         Thursday, March 8, from noon until 6 p.m. at Belmont Beverage, located at 3309 N. Anthony Blvd. in Fort Wayne.  Please call 424-4604 to schedule your blood donation appointment.

·         Monday, March 12, from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Grabill Missionary Church in the Fellowship Hall, located at 13637 State St. in Grabill.  Please call (260) 466-3213 to arrange transportation to this blood drive.

·         Wednesday, March 14, from 1 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. at Saint Anne Home & Retirement Community, located at 1900 Randallia Drive in Fort Wayne.  Please call 399-3267 to schedule your blood donation appointment.

• Fort Wayne Donor Center located at 1212 E. California Road in Fort Wayne, (across from the Memorial Coliseum)

Traditional whole blood or double red cell donation:

·         Monday and Tuesday:               11 a.m. – 5 p.m.                    

·         Wednesday and Thursday:       noon – 6 p.m.                        

·         Friday and Saturday:                  8 a.m. – 2 p.m.                      

Platelet pheresis donation (call 1-800-589-8127 or 260-480-8299 to schedule a platelet donation):

·         Monday:               6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

·         Tuesday:             11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.                                       

·         Wednesday:         11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

·         Thursday:                        11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.               

·         Friday:                  6:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

·         Saturday:                         6:30 a.m. – noon

·         Sunday:                8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Lutheran Hospital Donor Center located at 7900 W. Jefferson Blvd., Suite 107 in Fort Wayne (in the South Lobby of Lutheran Hospital)

Traditional whole blood or platelet pheresis donation (no platelet pheresis on Wednesdays):

·         **Lutheran Donor Center will be closed March 1-4 to upgrade our donor experience.**

·         Monday through Wednesday:   noon – 6 p.m.

·         Thursday through Saturday:                6 a.m. – noon *

* 2nd Thursday of the month: noon - 6 p.m.