Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
As Hurricane Matthew continued its path of destruction up the southeast coast, the American Red Cross expanded its massive sheltering effort to span five states. Nearly 7,000 people woke up Monday morning in 156 Red Cross and community emergency shelters. The Red Cross has also mobilized 133 response vehicles, three kitchens and 97 trailers filled with water, ready-to-eat meals, shelter and kitchen supplies, cleaning supplies and comfort kits, insect repellant, gloves, masks, shovels, rakes, coolers and more. A total of more than 2,700 Red Cross disaster workers—including over 30 from the Western and Central New York Region—are supporting the relief efforts.
Donations needed for victims of Hurricane Matthew
The Red Cross depends on donations to provide immediate relief. Help people affected by Hurricane Matthew by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word MATTHEW to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster. Learn more about the Red Cross response to Hurricane Matthew here.
Urgent need for blood donations
The American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood and platelet donations. Right now, blood products are being distributed to hospitals as quickly as donations come in.
Hurricane Matthew has forced the cancellation of approximately 40 Red Cross blood drives in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia resulting in more than 1500 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected. Dozens of additional blood drive cancellations are possible in communities where the storm has caused major flooding. Eligible blood and platelet donors in parts of the country unaffected by the storm are urged to make an appointment as soon as possible to help ensure we have a readily available blood supply for patients in need.
A blood drive is being held at the Western New York Chapter Headquarters, 786 Delaware Avenue, on Wednesday October 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All eligible donors are urged to give blood.
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.
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