Red Cross Blood Drives in Massachusetts This Month

The following is a press release from the American Red Cross - and below is a list of dates and places where you can donate from the release:

The American Red Cross has issued an emergency call for blood and platelets, urging all eligible donors to give now to replenish an extremely low summer blood supply.

Blood donations have fallen short of hospital needs for the past few months, resulting in about 39,000 fewer donations than what’s needed, as well as a significant draw down of the overall Red Cross blood supply. In addition, the Independence Day holiday may have caused many regular donors to postpone donations due to vacation plans. A recent Red Cross poll revealed that more than 75 percent of donors surveyed indicated vacation plans this summer, many of them occurring the weeks before and after July 4.

“Right now, blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in, which is why we are making this emergency request for donations,” said Nick Gehrig, communications director, Red Cross Blood Services. “Donations are urgently needed now to meet the needs of hospital patients in the coming days and weeks. If you’ve thought about giving blood and helping to save lives, now is the time to do it. It’s the blood donations on the shelves that help save lives when an emergency occurs.”

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). The Red Crossis extending hours at many donation sites to allow for more donors to make an appointment to give. Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPassonline health history questionnaire are encouraged to avoid longer wait times. Donors with all blood types are needed.

Those unable to give can still help by encouraging others to give through a SleevesUp virtual blood drive at redcrossblood.org/sleevesup, giving of their time through volunteerism or making a financial donation to support Red Cross humanitarian work across the country and around the world.

Who Blood Donations Help

Every two seconds in the United States blood and platelets are needed to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant procedures, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. The Red Cross must collect approximately 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.

Because of generous donors, the Red Cross is able to provide blood products to patients like 11-year-old Mae Rainey, who needs regular blood transfusions as part of her treatment for a blood disorder.

“I am very grateful for the opportunities that the Red Cross has given us to get her to her healthiest state,” said Caleb Rainey, Mae’s older brother.

Watch Mae’s story to learn how blood donations can make a lifesaving difference.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities

Barnstable

Harwich

7/21/2016: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Harwich Community Center, 100 Oak Street

Hyannis

7/22/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., The Pavilion, 876 Falmouth Road

South Yarmouth

7/25/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., The Parish Life Center, 25 Barbara Street

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Bristol

Acushnet

7/11/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Acushnet Council on Aging, 59 South Main Street

Taunton

7/12/2016: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Y - Taunton Branch, 71 Cohannet Street

Westport

7/15/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., White's of Westport, 66 State Road - Rte. 6

Fairhaven

7/16/2016: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Fairhaven Recreation Center, 227 Huttleston Ave

Fall River

7/19/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Saint Anne's Hospital, 795 Middle Street

North Attleboro

7/22/2016: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., North Attleboro YMCA, 300 Elmwood Street

Mansfield

7/5/2016: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Holiday Inn/Main Building, 31 Hampshire Street

Swansea

7/5/2016: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Venus De Milo, 75 Grand Army Highway

Taunton

7/8/2016: 7 a.m. - 12 p.m., Morton Hospital/Main Building, 88 Washington Street

Attleboro

7/9/2016: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Bliss Brothers Dairy, 711 Park Street

Fall River

7/9/2016: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., New Life Fall River, 1082 Davol Street

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Norfolk

Norfolk

7/11/2016: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., King Philip Middle School, 18 King Street

Foxboro

7/16/2016: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., St. Mary's Church, St. Mary's Church, 58 Carpenter Street

Wellesley

7/18/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Wellesley Community Center/Babson Hall, 219 Washington Street

Quincy

7/19/2016: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Saint Thomas Aquinas Hall, Two Darrow Street

Franklin

7/21/2016: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Franklin Elks, 1077 Pond Street

Bellingham

7/23/2016: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Bellingham Senior Center, 40 Blackstone Street

Quincy

7/25/2016: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Sons of Italy, 120 Quarry Street

Norwood

7/6/2016: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Norwest Woods Townhouses, One Norwest Drive

Franklin

7/7/2016: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Franklin Elks, 1077 Pond Street

Wrentham

7/8/2016: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Lake Pearl, 299 Creek Street

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Plymouth

Kingston

7/18/2016: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 91 South Street

Plymouth

7/19/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Plymouth County Sheriff's Department, 24 Long Pond Road

Bridgewater

7/19/2016: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 103 Center St

Plymouth

7/20/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Community Systems Inc., 3 Cedarhill Park Drive

Hanover

7/20/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Hanover Town Hall, 550 Hanover Street - Suite 29

Hingham

7/22/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Hingham Town Hall, 210 Central Street

Marshfield

7/23/2016: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Boys and Girls Club, 37 Proprietors Drive

Carver

7/25/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Carver Library, 2 Meadowbrook Way

Pembroke

7/25/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Pembroke Library, 142 Center Street

Whitman

7/25/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Walgreens Whitman, 392 Bedford St, (Rt 18)

Wareham

7/6/2016: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Cape Cod Five, 10 Rosebrook Place

Plymouth

7/7/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Hotel 1620 Plymouth Harbor, 180 Water St

Marshfield

7/7/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Marshfield Elks Lodge 2494, 1321 Ocean Street

Brockton

7/7/2016: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center, 235 North Pearl Street

Plymouth

7/8/2016: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Plymouth, 275 Sandwich Street

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Suffolk

Boston

7/15/2016: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Boston Convention & Exhibition Ctr, 415 Summer St

7/15/2016: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., J F K Federal Building, 15 New Sudbury St

7/18/2016: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Saint Anthony's Shrine, 100 Arch Street

Chelsea

7/19/2016: 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., One North, 150 Heard Street

Boston

7/22/2016: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., J F K Federal Building, 15 New Sudbury St

7/6/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Hyatt, One Avenue de Lafayette

Revere

7/6/2016: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., American Legion Post 61, 249 Broadway