Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
PIONEER, Ohio — The community is invited to give blood in honor of Jerry Heminger at a special American Red Cross blood drive on Friday, August 5, from 12:30 to 6 p.m. at the Pioneer Area Chamber of Commerce in Pioneer.
Jerry was a prominent local businessman in his community and a member of the Chamber of Commerce. He received hundreds of blood transfusions following a diagnosis of Myelodyplastic Syndrome, a group of cancers related to leukemia that primarily affect the cells inside the bone marrow. While these transfusions helped prolong Jerry’s life another five years after diagnosis, he sadly passed away in 2011.
This will be the fourth blood drive Jerry’s family has hosted in his name; the previous three drives have collected 97 pints of blood. “I lost the best dad in the world but not from lack of blood donors, for which we are forever grateful,” said Karen Ackerman, Jerry’s daughter. “Our family is so thankful for all the support we have received and I pray we continue to help those in their time of need.”
“Hosting this blood drive in his name is a wonderful way to honor Jerry and help patients in need,” said Stephanie Burris, account manager for the Red Cross.
This blood drive comes at an important time of year. Blood and platelet donations often decline during the summer months when busy summer schedules and vacation plans can cause some donors to be less available to give. Additionally, blood donations at high school and college blood drives, which account for as much as 20 percent of blood donations during the school year, decline when many schools are out of session. But, the need for blood remains constant all summer long.
To learn more about blood donation, including information on eligibility to donate, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). If you were deferred from donating in the past, you may be eligible to donate again.
Blood Drive in Memory of Jerry Heminger
Friday, August 5, 2016
12:30 - 6 p.m.
Pioneer Area Chamber of Commerce
100 North Elm St., Pioneer, OH 43554
To schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS
Those who come to donate between now and Sept. 5 can receive an exclusive Cedar Fair ticket offer that helps support the Red Cross, and enter to win one of two grand prize packages for four to Knott’s Berry Farm in California or Cedar Point in Ohio. Blood drive participants can go to redcrossblood.org/cedarfair to purchase discounted tickets for gate admission and enter to win one of the two grand prize packages. For each ticket purchased through the website, Cedar Fair will donate $2 to the Red Cross to support its humanitarian mission. Terms and conditions apply and are available at redcrossblood.org/cedarfair.
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 (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.
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, 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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