Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
RICEVILLE, Iowa (June 1, 2020) — An American Red Cross blood drive will be held in memory of Kimberly Grimm Thursday, June 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Windy Tree Café, 101 E Main St., and at the Riceville Community Center, 119 W. Main St., in Riceville. To abide with social distancing guidelines, two locations will be offered to the community to donate blood. Appointments are strongly encouraged.
In 2006, Riceville native, Kim Grimm passed away after a six-year battle with thrombotic thombocytopenia purpura, a rare autoimmune disease that affects the platelets and red blood cells in the blood vessels; causing the immune system to turn against normal cells within the body. Kim received many blood products during her journey and she was a real advocate for donating blood products.
Kim left behind a huge legacy and was loved by many. Her life was filled with service to others and community involvement.
“To have Riceville’s annual Red Cross community blood drive in memory of Kim is a great honor,” said Judy Grimm, Kim’s mother. “Kim would attend blood drives, share information and thank donors personally. Sometimes if she was travelling and saw a Red Cross donation site she would go inside and thank donors.” Her heart was truly in the right place and she touched many hearts.
Since 2007, this special blood drive has been bringing Kim’s hometown community together with the mission of helping to save lives and has collected nearly 1,900 donations.
This drive comes as the Red Cross has an urgent need for blood donations to prevent another blood shortage as hospitals resume surgical procedures and patient treatments that were temporarily paused earlier this spring in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to Amazon, all those who come to give June 1-30 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. Restrictions apply. Additional information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to ensure the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.
Every two seconds in the United States blood is needed to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. The Red Cross must collect nearly 13,000 blood and more than 2,600 platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,500 hospitals nationwide.
Those with types O, A negative and B negative blood are encouraged to make a Power Red donation at this blood drive. Power Red donors give a concentrated dose of red blood cells during a single donation, allowing them to maximize their impact.
“Hosting a blood drive in her name is a wonderful way to honor Kim and help patients in need,” said Whitney Joachin, account manager for the Red Cross WI/IA Blood Services Region. “This blood drive is truly fitting since Kimberly was known for loving her community and serving others.”
How to donate blood
Simply download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device 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 in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), 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.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% 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, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.