CHICAGO, IL - During Red Cross Month in March, the American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to join in its lifesaving mission by giving blood.
Since 1943, every U.S. president has designated March as Red Cross Month to recognize how the Red Cross helps people across the country and around the world. Red Cross Month is a celebration of supporters, who are the face of the Red Cross in their communities and bring hope to people facing emergencies.
Blood donor Timothy Sheely knows the need firsthand. His wife required 12 units of blood during emergency surgery following the birth of their son. “If it had not been for blood donors, she might not have survived,” he said. “Thanks to generous blood donors, I still have a wife and my kids still have their mom. I can’t possibly thank those people in person, but I can give a little piece of me back with each donation for the greater good.”
The Red Cross depends on blood donor heroes across the nation to collect enough blood to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals nationwide. Donors of all blood types, especially type O, are needed to help those rely on blood products.
Make an appointment to become a hero to patients in need by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Bureau County
Princeton
3/2/2017: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 316 S. Church Street
Carroll County
Savanna
3/6/2017: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., West Carroll High School, 500 Cragmoor Drive
Cook County
Arlington Heights
3/6/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Red Cross, 544 West Northwest Highway
Chicago
2/20/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., DePaul University Ray Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center, 2235 N. Sheffield
2/21/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., DePaul University Ray Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center, 2235 N. Sheffield
2/26/2017: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive
2/27/2017: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Rush University Medical Center, 1650 West Harrison Street
3/1/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Damen Student Center, 6511 N. Sheridan
3/13/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 E. Chicago Ave.
3/14/2017: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 E. Chicago Ave.
3/15/2017: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Damen Student Center, 6511 N. Sheridan
Chicago Ridge
3/3/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Chicago Ridge Mall, 444 Chicago Ridge Mall
Glenview
2/18/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Chicago Harley-Davidson, 2929 Patriot Blvd
Maywood
2/16/2017: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Loyola University Center for Fitness, 2160 S. First Ave, Loyola Center for Fitness
3/2/2017: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Loyola University Center for Fitness, 2160 S. First Ave, Loyola Center for Fitness
Palos Heights
2/23/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Ozinga Chapel, 6601 W. College Drive
Palos Hills
2/22/2017: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Building H, 9000 W. College Pkwy
Winnetka
3/17/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Winnetka Community House, 620 Lincoln Avenue
DeKalb County
Sandwich
2/25/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sandwich American Legion/VFW, 713 S. Main Street
Kankakee County
Aroma Park
3/11/2017: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., United Methodist Church, 3rd and Division
Bourbonnais
2/15/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kankakee Blood Donation Center, 20 Heritage Drive
2/23/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kankakee Blood Donation Center, 20 Heritage Drive
2/24/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Bourbonnais Fire Department, 1080 Armour Rd.
3/2/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kankakee Blood Donation Center, 20 Heritage Drive
3/9/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kankakee Blood Donation Center, 20 Heritage Drive
3/10/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Northfield Square Mall, 1600 N. St. Rt. 50
3/16/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kankakee Blood Donation Center, 20 Heritage Drive
Bradley
3/1/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Moose Lodge, 730 N Kinzie Ave
Herscher
2/17/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 225 E. Third
3/10/2017: 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., Herscher Intermediate School, 501 N.Main
Momence
3/6/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Momence Fire Department, 15 N Pine
Saint Anne
3/15/2017: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., St. Anne Community Drive, 650 W. Guertin
La Salle County
Grand Ridge
3/4/2017: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Farm Ridge Township Building, 228 W. Penn
Mendota
3/7/2017: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Moose Lodge, 211 E 12th Street
Ottawa
2/16/2017: 7:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center, 1100 E. Norris Drive
2/16/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center, 1100 E. Norris Drive
3/2/2017: 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1401 State Street
Peru
2/21/2017: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Illinois Valley Chapter Donation Center, 1530 4th Street
3/7/2017: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Illinois Valley Chapter Donation Center, 1530 4th Street
Streator
2/16/2017: 8:45 a.m. - 1 p.m., First Baptist Church, 204 S. Monroe
3/1/2017: 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Teleperformance, 12 Northpoint Dr.
3/2/2017: 1:45 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 204 S.
Monroe
3/16/2017: 8:45 a.m. - 1 p.m., First Baptist Church, 204 S. Monroe
3/17/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Streator High School, 202 W. Lincoln Ave
Tonica 3/13/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., United Methodist Church, 423 Wauponis Street
Lake County
Grayslake
3/7/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington
Lee County
Dixon
2/21/2017: 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital, 403 E. First Street
2/21/2017: 1:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital, 403 E. First Street
2/27/2017: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sauk Valley Community College Student Government, 173 IL Route 2
Stephenson County
Freeport
2/27/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Highland Community College - Building H, 2998 W. Pearl City Road
Whiteside County
Fulton
2/28/2017: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Robert Fulton Community Center, 912 4th Street
2/28/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fulton High School, 1207 12th Street
3/14/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Robert Fulton Community Center, 912 4th Street
Morrison
3/16/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., United Methodist Church, 200 West Lincolnway
Rock Falls
2/15/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Rock Falls Blood Donation Center, 112 W. Second St.
3/1/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Rock Falls Blood Donation Center, 112 W. Second St.
3/5/2017: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Army National Guard, 716 Sixth Ave
3/15/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Rock Falls Blood Donation Center, 112 W. Second St.
Sterling
2/15/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sterling High School, 1608 4th Ave.
3/7/2017: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Newman Central Catholic High School, 1101 W. 23rd Street
3/8/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kune's Country-Sterling Location, 2502 Locust
Tampico
3/9/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Tampico United Methodist Church, 202 Lincoln Stret, PO Box 336
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How to help: 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 of Chicago & Northern Illinois:
The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois serves 9.5 million people in 21 counties including Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lake, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago. 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 us at redcross.org/il/chicago or visit us on Twitter @ChicagoRedCross.
Media contact: Laura McGuire, 608-381-4502