Red Cross issues emergency call for blood donors
The community is invited to give blood in memory of Rev. Catherine Clayton at a special American Red Cross blood drive held in her honor Saturday, July 22, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Family Life Center at Westville United Methodist Church.
Rev. Clayton was known for her southern charm and gentle soul. She served as minister for Westville United Methodist Church for three years, from 2014 to 2017, after a long career with NASA in rocket science. She was an avid supporter of the Red Cross blood drives held at her church. Catherine passed away in April 2017 from a chronic illness and will be missed.
“She loved the community and supported the Red Cross blood drives even though she was not able to give herself,” said Kay Tetzloff, fellow church member. “We would love to see the community give blood in her memory.”
“Hosting this blood drive in her name is a wonderful way to remember Rev. Clayton and thank her for her support over the years,” said Kristine Kaplan, recruitment account manager for the Red Cross.
This blood drive comes when the Red Cross is facing a critical blood shortage and is issuing an emergency call for donors of all types to give now so patients can continue to receive the lifesaving treatments they need. Blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in, and more donations are needed now to replenish the blood supply.
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.
Donate Blood in memory of Rev. Catherine Clayton
Saturday, July 22, 2017
8 a.m. to noon
Family Life Center at Westville United Methodist Church
154 Main St., Westville, IN 46391
Everyone who comes to donate now through Sept. 4 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 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.
###
