Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (Aug. 06, 2018) – The American Red Cross invites the community to attend a grand reopening at its newly renovated American Red Cross Bloomington Blood Donation Center, Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at 1 Westport Court, in Bloomington.
To better serve the community and surrounding area, the updated facility includes a blood donation center and an updated work space for humanitarian services. This enhancement provides additional donation opportunities that ensure patients receive the products they need. The facility will allow the Red Cross to be more efficient in delivering vital humanitarian services, disaster relief and health and safety classes to the community.
“We’re happy to introduce this beautiful facility to the community and we are excited to have biomedical and humanitarian teams collaborating and sharing resources in the new facility,”
said Lynda Hruska, Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross Central and Southern Illinois Region. “The ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the launch of a new era for the Red Cross in Bloomington, and we are excited to welcome the community to the new facility.”
The event will include a news conference, ribbon cutting hosted by the McLean County Chamber of Commerce, a tour and reception. Speakers will include Red Cross Regional Executive Linda Hruska, Charlie Moore of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce, and special guest, Mike Johnson, who was the first donor at the new center and donates in honor of his son.
The new hours of operation for the American Red Cross Blooming Blood Donation Center are Mondays and Tuesdays 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 pm., closed Wednesdays, Thursdays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
This blood drive comes as the Red Cross faces an emergency blood shortage and is issuing an urgent call for blood and platelet donors to give now. Blood products are currently being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in. More donations are immediately needed to help replenish the blood supply. In thanks, all those who come to donate blood or platelets July 30 through Aug. 30, 2018, will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. (Restrictions apply; see amazon.com/gc-legal. More information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.)
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 more than 13,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals nationwide. Blood donors of all types are needed. There is no substitute for donated blood products.
How to donate blood
Simply download the 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 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, from a computer or mobile device. 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, CruzRojaAmericana.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
The American Red Cross Central and Southern Illinois Region is proud to serve 72 counties in Illinois, four counties in Missouri and two counties in Iowa. The region includes three chapters and serves almost 3 million people.
The Central and Southern Illinois Region provides vital services including disaster relief, health and safety classes, blood collection and services to the Armed Forces.
In the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2018, the American Red Cross Central and Southern Illinois Region:
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