Blood Shortage Prompts Emergency Call For Donations

ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES, CA – The American Red Cross is facing a critical blood shortage and is issuing an emergency call for eligible blood and platelet donors of all blood types to give now and help save lives.

Blood donations have fallen short of expectations for the past two months, resulting in about 61,000 fewer donations than needed and causing a significant draw down of the Red Cross blood supply. The shortfall is the equivalent of the Red Cross not collecting any blood donations for more than four days.

Overall, the summer months are among the most challenging times of the year for blood and platelet donations as regular donors delay giving while they vacation and participate in summer activities.

New donors and those who haven’t given in a while are especially encouraged to roll up a sleeve and help save lives. Nearly one-third fewer new blood donors came out to give last summer than during the rest of the year due in part to schools – where blood drives are held and where new donors give – being out of session during the summer months.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities through July 25 in ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES:

Alameda
7/10/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., MBH Architects, 960 Atlantic Ave
7/11/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Alameda City Library, 1550 Oak St.

Emeryville
7/11/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Towers 2200, 2200 Powell St., Suite D

Hayward
7/7/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hayward, 26101 Gading Rd
7/21/2017: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Life Chiropractic College, 25001 Industrial Blvd

Livermore
7/14/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Asbury United Methodist Church, 4743 East Avenue

Newark/Fremont - Newark Blood Donation Center
39227 Cedar Boulevard
Tuesday: 11:45 a.m. - 6:15 p.m.
Wednesday: 11:45 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Thursday: 11:45 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:15 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Saturday: 8:15 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Sunday: 8:15 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

OAKLAND
Oakland Blood Donation Center - 6230 Claremont Avenue
Tuesday: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Thursday: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m
Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m
Saturday: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m

7/11/2017: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Ordway Building, 1 Kaiser Plaza
7/12/2017: 1:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Interstake Center, 4770 Lincoln Ave
7/12/2017: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Oakland State Building, 1515 Clay Street
7/6/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Oakland Fed Bldg North Tower Oakland, 1301 Clay Street
7/7/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Kaiser Permanente Hospital Oakland, 3600 Broadway

Pleasanton
Pleasanton Blood Donation Center
5556-B Springdale Avenue
Tuesday: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Thursday: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m
Saturday: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m

7/8/2017: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., St. Elizabeth – Seton (CCOP), 4005 Stoneridge Dr
7/14/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Pleasanton, 6100 Paseo Santa Cruz

Union City
7/6/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Union City Sports Center, 31224 Union City Blvd.
7/7/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kaiser Permanente, 3555 Whipple Road

Antioch
7/21/2017: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., St. Ignatius of Antioch, 3351 Contra Loma Blvd

Brentwood
7/21/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Resurrection (Ministries) Lutheran Church, 1275 Fairview Avenue

Danville
7/6/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Danville, 655 Old Orchard Drive

Hercules
7/24/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Valley Bible Church, 1477 Willow Avenue

Pinole
7/19/2017: 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., PINOLE COMMUNITY, 2500 Charles Avenue

Pleasant Hill - Contra Costa Blood Donation Center
140 Gregory Lane

Monday: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Tuesday: 12:15 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Wednesday: 12:15 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Thursday: 12:15 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Saturday: 8:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Sunday: 8:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

San Ramon
7/20/2017: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Bishop Ranch, 2600 Camino Ramon, Magnolia Room - Conference Center
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How to Help: To schedule an appointment to donate, use the free Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help reduce the time it takes to donate.

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• 4-Day 'Taste Our Terroir' Food & Wine Affair Is Coming Up In Livermore Valley!

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