The month of January is declared as the US National Blood Donor Month since 1970. This is the special time of the year to give honor to the eleven million people who choose to act as blood donors and blood drive sponsors. It’s also the ideal time to persuade others to donate blood.

As the winter month of the year, January is also the month in which the process of recruitment is at its demanding peak. Many people are still adjusting due to changes in weather, holiday schedules and the increase of flu incidents.

As confirmed by its staff, the local Red Cross experiences a ten percent dip in blood donation especially O-negative, B-negative and A-negative. The ideal quota of 650 blood donors to supply the constant needs of 41 hospitals is not accomplished. The organization also failed to collect 500 donations as planned.

Rodney Wilson is the Communication Manager, addresses the public that the alarming dip is caused by several unpredictable factors at the start of the winter.

“There are so many unpredictable factors at play that can affect the blood supply during January; it’s a critical time to remind the public of the need for more donors. If you are in good health, now is the time to share that good health with patients in need.”

Colleen O’Callaghan is a donor recruitment representative of ARC and she is interviewed by MLive.com. This is what she says:

“We have to consistently recycle. If we don’t have a good collection every single day we could have a hospital underserved. Every 12 seconds someone in the United States needs some sort of blood transfusion. One donation can help up to three people.”

The American Red Cross Blood Donation Drives

In high hopes that this crisis will come to an end, qualified blood donors are encouraged to participate in some of the blood drives listed below. Participants are given free coffee as sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts and delicious cookies from Keebler. They can also win free groceries from Kroger.

JANUARY 3, 2012 (Tuesday, 2 – 7 PM) LOCATION: Liberty Bible Church, 824 N. Calumet Avenue in Chesterton

JANUARY 5, 2012 (Thursday, 12 noon – 5:45 PM) LOCATION: St. John Activity Center. Chef Cat Cora

JANUARY 5, 2012 (Thursday, 2:30 – 6:30 PM) LOCATION: Faith Memorial Lutheran Church, 753 N. Calumet Valparaiso

JANUARY 6, 2012 (Friday, 8 AM – 1 PM) LOCATION: Washington Township High School Media Room & Library, 381 East SR 2 in Valparaiso

JANUARY 8, 2012 (Sunday, 9 AM – 2 PM) LOCATION: Nativity of our Savior in the Fellowship Hall, 2949 Willowcreek Road in Portage

JANUARY 9, 2012 (Monday, 12 NOON – 6 PM) LOCATION: St. Paul Catholic Church Social Hall, 1855 W. Harrison Blvd. in Valparaiso

JANUARY 10, 2012 (Tuesday, 12:30 – 6:30 PM) LOCATION: Messiah Lutheran Church, 402 N. First St., Lindsborg

JANUARY 10, 2012 (Tuesday, 3 PM – 7 PM) LOCATION: Central Baptist Church Gymnasium, 704 West 700 North in Hobart

JANUARY 10, 2012 (Tuesday, 2 PM – 7 PM) LOCATION: United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 202 W. Church St. in Hebron

JANUARY 12, 2012 (Thursday, 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM) LOCATION: Central Christian Church, 1808 Campbell St. in Valparaiso

JANUARY 13, 2012 (Friday, 2 PM – 7 PM) LOCATION: First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 2637 McCool Road in Portage

JANUARY 13, 2012 (Friday, 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM) LOCATION: Kouts High School Auditorium, 302 E. College Avenue Kouts

JANUARY 14, 2012 (Saturday, 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM) LOCATION: Walmart 3400 E. Morthland Dr. in Valparaiso

JANUARY 16, 2012 (Monday, 1 – 7 PM) LOCATION: American Red Cross Locust Creek Donor Center, 2546 Locust Creek Drive, Evansville

JANUARY 17, 2012 (Tuesday, 8:15 AM – 2 PM) LOCATION: Mountain Valley High School Gym

JANUARY 17, 2012 (Tuesday, 12 noon – 6 PM) LOCATION: Stockwell Blood Donation Center, 29 South Stockwell Road, Evansville

JANUARY 17, 2012 (Tuesday, 12 noon – 6 PM) LOCATION: Civic Center, 225 N 21st St, Escanaba

JANUARY 17, 2012 (Tuesday, 2 – 6 PM) LOCATION: Galesburg Blood Donation Center, 143 E. Main St.

JANUARY 17, 2012 (Tuesday, 3 – 7 PM) LOCATION: VFW Post 2366, 314 Geiger St., Huntingburg

JANUARY 18, 2012 (Wednesday, 9 AM – 2 PM) LOCATION: Webster Country High School, 1922 U.S. Highway 41A South, Dixon, Ky

JANUARY 18, 2012 (Wednesday, 10 AM – 4 PM) LOCATION: Stockwell Blood Donation Center, 29 South Stockwell Road, Evansville

JANUARY 18, 2012 (Wednesday, 12 noon – 6 PM) LOCATION: First Lutheran Gladstone, 1212 Minneapolis Ave, Gladstone

JANUARY 18, 2012 (Wednesday, 2 PM – 6 PM) LOCATION: South Middle School, 800 S. Alves St., Henderson

JANUARY 19, 2012 (Thursday, 10 AM – 4 PM) LOCATION: Stockwell Blood Donation Center, 29 South Stockwell Road, Evansville

JANUARY 19, 2012 (Thursday, 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM) LOCATION: Eagles Club, 1041 E. Chestnut St. Chilton

JANUARY 20, 2012 (Friday, 7 AM – 3 PM) LOCATION: Stockwell Blood Donation Center, 29 South Stockwell Road, Evansville

JANUARY 20, 2012 (Friday, 12:15 – 4:15 PM) LOCATION: Methodist Hospital, 1305 N. Elm, Henderson

JANUARY 21, 2012 (Saturday, 9 AM – 2 PM) LOCATION: Knights of Columbus, 811 Main St., Jasper

JANUARY 21, 2012 (Saturday, 10 AM – 2 PM) LOCATION: Knights of Columbus, 319 East Main St., Washington

JANUARY 21, 2012 (Saturday, 8 AM – 12 noon) LOCATION: Dixie United Methodist Church, 7033 Wheeler Road, Corydon, Ky.

JANUARY 22, 2012 (Sunday, 7:30 AM – 12:30 PM) LOCATION: St. Philip Catholic Church, 3500 S. St. Phillip Road, Mount Vernon, Ind.

JANUARY 22, 2012 (Sunday, 8:00 AM – 12 noon) LOCATION: Christ the King Catholic Church / School, 3010 East Chandler Avenue, Evansville

JANUARY 22, 2012 (Sunday, 8:00 AM – 1 PM) LOCATION: St. James West United Methodist Church, 3111 Hillcrest Terrace, Evansville

JANUARY 23, 2012 (Monday, 10 AM – 6 PM) LOCATION: American Red Cross Southwestern Indiana Chapter, 29 South Stockwell Road, Evansville

JANUARY 24, 2012 (Tuesday, 12 noon – 6 PM) LOCATION: Stockwell Blood Donation Center, 29 South Stockwell Road, Evansville

JANUARY 24, 2012 (Tuesday, 12 noon – 6 PM) LOCATION: University of Evansville / Ridgway University Center, 1800 Lincoln Ave., Evansville

JANUARY 24, 2012 (Tuesday, 2 – 6 PM) LOCATION: Galesburg Blood Donation Center, 143 E. Main St.

JANUARY 24, 2012 (Tuesday, 3 – 7 PM) LOCATION: St. Joseph Catholic Church, 6130 West St. Joseph Road, Evansville

JANUARY 24, 2012 (Tuesday, 8 AM – 1 PM) LOCATION: Faith Bible Church, 5601 Oak Hill Road, Evansville

JANUARY 25, 2012 (Wednesday, 10 AM – 3 PM) LOCATION: C. K. Newsome Community Center, 100 Walnut St., Evansville

JANUARY 25, 2012 (Wednesday, 10 AM – 4 PM) LOCATION: Stockwell Blood Donation Center, 29 South Stockwell Road, Evansville

JANUARY 26, 2012 (Thursday, 8 – 11 AM) LOCATION: Orthopaedic Associates, Columbia Street, 533 West Columbia Street, Evansville

JANUARY 26, 2012 (Thursday, 10 AM – 4 PM) LOCATION: Stockwell Blood Donation Center, 29 South Stockwell Road, Evansville

JANUARY 26, 2012 (Thursday, 1:30 – 4:30 PM) LOCATION: Orthopaedic Associates,  Gateway, 10455 Orthopaedic Drive, Newburgh

JANUARY 27, 2012 (Friday, 7 AM – 3 PM) LOCATION: Stockwell Blood Donation Center, 29 South Stockwell Road, Evansville

JANUARY 27, 2012 (Friday, 9 AM – 2 PM) LOCATION: Deaconess Hospital, 600 Mary Street, Evansville

JANUARY 28, 2012 (Saturday, 10 AM – 2:30 PM) LOCATION: Sunnyview Expo Center, 500 E. Country Y. Oshkosh

JANUARY 29. 2012 (Sunday, 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM) LOCATION: Zion Lippe United Church of Christ, 9000 Copperline E. Road, Mount Vernon, Ind.

JANUARY 29. 2012 (Sunday, 8 AM – 12 noon) LOCATION: St. Bernard Catholic Church, 547 Elm Street, Rockport, Ind.

JANUARY 29. 2012 (Sunday, 8 AM – 12 noon) LOCATION: Mary Help of Christians Church, 6827 E. County Road 1930 N, Mariah Hill

JANUARY 31, 2012 (Tuesday, 2 – 6 PM) LOCATION: Galesburg Blood Donation Center, 143 E. Main St.

JANUARY 31, 2012 (Tuesday, 12 noon – 6 PM) LOCATION: Stockwell Blood Donation Center, 29 South Stockwell Road, Evansville

For appointments and other schedules of blood donation drives near your area, just visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767. An eligible donor can easily pass the series of examinations because he or she is generally healthy, seventeen years of age and weighs at least 110 pounds or more (specifically at least 130 pounds for males and at least 150 pounds for females). He or she must also present legal identifications or his/her Red Cross Blood Card Donor.

Be a Hero Today!

Blood is life and you can’t reproduce it. If you are not a millionaire, giving blood is the simplest and non-expensive way of helping people you know or you do not know.

Truth of the matter is; you’re saving three lives for every pint of blood you donate whether it’s whole, plasma, platelets or double red blood cells. These are three lives who are victims of road accidents and those who are in need of regular blood transfusions because they are diagnosed with blood diseases such as leukemia.

Sharyn Whitman is currently the CEO of American Red Cross Blood Services in Indiana-Ohio Region and this is what she said in her interview.

“Blood donors bring hope and promise to hospital patients who may need blood for their very life. Donors are people like you who play a vital role in modern health care by helping ensure hospitals have blood for patients.”

She also added that donating blood is an act of making a lifetime of difference that can only last an hour.

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