Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
Kirksville community encouraged to give blood March 30
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — The community is invited to give blood in memory of Stryker Anderson at a special American Red Cross blood drive on Thursday, March 30 from noon to 6 p.m. at Rehoboth Baptist Church in Kirksville.
For the second consecutive year the Red Cross will join Team Stryker, the Kiwanis Club and family in hosting the second annual blood drive in his memory. Donors will have the opportunity to remember Stryker and help other patients in need.
Stryker was born with a rare chromosomal blood disorder and required daily blood and platelet transfusions. The donations allowed Stryker more time with his family, but he eventually lost his life to organ failure. Though her son’s life was cut tragically short at just 19 months, Stryker’s mother, Joni Anderson, focuses instead on the positive impact of blood donations.
“We are so grateful to the blood donors who helped give us more time with Stryker,” said Anderson. “There are more patients like Stryker who cannot make their own red blood cells. Blood is their life support.”
The Red Cross must collect nearly 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals nationwide. Blood donated at the blood drive in memory of Stryker may help many patients in need, including accident victims, cancer patients and those undergoing surgery. In addition, the Red Cross has issued a call for platelet and type O negative and AB donations after severe weather in some parts of the country forced the cancellation of thousands of donations this month.
Blood Drive in memory of Stryker Anderson
Thursday, March 30. 2017
Noon to 6 p.m.
Rehoboth Baptist Church
100 Pfeiffer Avenue, Kirksville, MO 63501
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.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 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 donors can now 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, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
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, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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