Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
The American Red Cross and Good Times of Olean are supporting 9/11 Day by offering the community an opportunity to honor those who lost their lives and the heroes who responded following the tragic events of Sept.11. The 15th annual 9/11 Day blood drive will be held on September 11 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Good Times of Olean, 800R East State Street. City of Olean Mayor William J. Aiello will kick off the blood drive by being the first donor of day. Girl scouts will be at the blood drive to provide children activities while their parents donate blood.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Each year tens of millions of Americans and people around the world observe the anniversary of 9/11 by performing good deeds that help people and communities in need.
9/11 Day was launched in 2002 as an annual day of service to honor the victims and heroes of Sept. 11. Since then, the observance has evolved into the largest annual day of charitable engagement in the U.S. and was designated as a National Day of Service and Remembrance by the U.S. Congress in 2009.
“When you donate blood, you give a special gift to a cancer patient, an organ transplant recipient, a trauma victim, or someone facing another serious illness,” said American Red Cross Buffalo District Manager Vicki Smith. “A blood transfusion can be lifesaving. It’s a precious way to honor the victims and heroes of September 11th.”
Every day, the Red Cross must collect 14,000 blood donations to help support cancer patients, transplant patients, burn victims, trauma patients and others. In the New York-Penn Region which includes Rochester, approximately 1000 units of blood must be collected every day to meet the needs of nearly 90 hospitals the Red Cross serves in the Region.
Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood, so regular donations are needed. Blood and platelet donors of all types are urged to give.
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 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.
About 9/11 Day
9/11 Day is the largest annual day of charitable engagement in the United States. Each year tens of millions of Americans and countless others throughout the world observe September 11 by performing good deeds that help others. The goal of 9/11 Day is to keep alive the spirit of unity and compassion that arose in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, providing a positive, helpful way for people to annually remember and pay tribute to the 9/11 victims, and honor those that rose up in service in response to the attacks. The organizers of 9/11 Day encourage everyone to observe 9/11 this year by putting aside their differences, if any, joining together to help those most in need, and working more closely to make our world better and more peaceful. 911day.org
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