Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
The American Red Cross is joining family and friends to host a blood drive in memory of William Connor May 22 and 23 at Christ United Methodist Church in Watertown. On May 22, the blood drive is noon-6 p.m. and May 23 it is 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Being a part of the Red Cross was a lifelong commitment for William. As a blood donor, he gave more than 21 gallons to help patients in need. He volunteered on a regular basis and his wife coordinated blood drives in Watertown for almost 30 years. Now, his daughter Mary is a blood drive coordinator and her husband and children volunteer as well.
William passed away in February 2017 from an abdominal aortic aneurysm. He was an active member of the Watertown Elks Lodge 666 and Beaudoin-Koehler-Draeger Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3709. He also served on the Watertown Auxiliary Police for 52 years, spending the last 30 years as captain.
“The local blood drive has been part of my family for decades,” said William’s daughter, Mary Petrie. “We hope everyone can come out and donate in memory of my father to help patients in need.”
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 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals nationwide.
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.