Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
MORRISON, Ill. (April 16, 2018) — An American Red Cross blood drive will be held in memory of Jen Armstrong Banks Saturday, May 5, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Morrison Super Wash, 707 W. Lincolnway, in Morrison.
Jen passed away in 2015 after an automobile accident. She received numerous blood transfusions during treatment in effort to save her life.
This is the third year friends and family are embracing Jen’s kind-hearted spirit and organizing a blood drive in her memory. Two previous blood drives held in Jen’s name resulted in 110 lifesaving blood donations.
“There are so many reasons why someone may need blood that we don’t even realize,” said Janet Jarvis, donor recruitment account manager for the Red Cross Heart of America Blood Services Region. “We take for granted that blood will be there at the hospital when we need it, but it can only come from generous volunteer donors. Giving blood in Jen’s memory is a wonderful way to honor her and potentially help others.”
The Red Cross needs donors of all blood types to help ensure a sufficient supply for patients this spring. All those who come to donate from April 9 to May 13, 2018, will be entered to win one of three $1,000 gift cards to a national home improvement retailer, courtesy of Suburban Propane. (Restrictions apply. More details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Lets-Do-More.)
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Volunteers of all blood types are needed to help accident and burn victims, patients undergoing organ transplants, those receiving cancer treatments and others who rely on blood products.
Those with types O, A negative and B negative blood are encouraged to make a Power Red donation at this blood drive. Power Red donors give a concentrated dose of red blood cells during a single donation, allowing them to maximize their impact.
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 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 or CruzrojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.