Red Cross Blood Shortage: How To Donate In Collegeville

COLLEGEVILLE, PA — The American Red Cross is facing a critical blood shortage, as donations have dropped drastically over the last few months, officials said. The organization has issued an emergency call-out to all eligible individuals to donate immediately.

“It’s crucial that people donate now to meet the needs of patients every day and to be prepared for emergencies that require significant volumes of donated blood,” said Alana Mauger, external communications manager for the Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region, in a statement. “Every day, blood and platelet donors can help save lives, and right now these heroes are needed as soon as possible.”

Summer months cause even worst shortages, as many donors do not give while on vacation or participating in strenuous summer activities, organizers said.

The time around the Fourth of July is often among the worst for the Red Cross, as the holiday exacerbates existing shortages.

In Montgomery County, the following blood drives are coming up:

Abington

7/14/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Our Lady Help of Christians, 1500 Marian Road

Ambler

7/22/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., YMCA, 1325 McKean Road

7/24/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 708 S. Bethlehem Pike

Bala Cynwyd

7/21/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Pearson Vue, 3 Bala Plaza West

Blue Bell

7/24/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Whitpain Township Building, 960 Wentz Road

Collegeville

7/21/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Collegeville Fire Department, 29 E. Fifth St.

7/24/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., St. Eleanor's Roman Catholic Church, 647 Locust St.

7/25/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., St. Eleanor's Roman Catholic Church, 647 Locust St.

Conshohocken

7/10/2017: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Conicelli Honda Dealership, 1100 Ridge Pike

Elkins Park

7/14/2017: 7 a.m. - 12 p.m., MossRehab, Einstein at Elkins Park, 60 E. Township Line Road

7/20/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Keneseth Israel, 8339 Old York Road

Fort Washington

7/20/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Or Hadash, 190 Camp Hill Road

7/21/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Ave.

Gladwyne

7/10/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Beth David Reform Congregation, 1130 Vaughn Lane

7/12/2017: 2:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., St. John Vianney Church, 350 Conshohocken State Road

Glenside

7/17/2017: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., Arcadia University, Kuch Center, 450 S. Easton Road

7/25/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., VFW Post No. 676-North Penn, 2519 Jenkintown Road

Hatboro

7/10/2017: 2:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 505 N. York Road

Hatfield

7/10/2017: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Plains Mennonite Church, 50 Orvilla Road

Haverford

7/15/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Memorial Church of God in Christ, 747 Buck Lane

Horsham

7/16/2017: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Days Inn, 245 Easton Road

7/17/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Wawa, 1510 Easton Road

7/19/2017: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Workspace Properties, 5 Walnut Grove Drive

Jenkintown

7/8/2017: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Immaculate Conception Church, 606 West Ave.

7/12/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Rydal Park, 1515 The Fairway

King of Prussia

7/13/2017: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Neiman Marcus, 170 N. Gulph Road

7/17/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Upper Merion Township Building, 175 W. Valley Forge Road

7/18/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Temple Brith Achim, 481 S. Gulph Road

7/20/2017: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Vencore, 720 Vandenburg Road

7/25/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fiserv and BPG Management Company, 455 S. Gulph Road

Lafayette Hill

7/19/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Whitemarsh Township Building, 616 Germantown Pike

Lansdale

7/12/2017: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., The Reserve at Gwynedd, 301 Primrose Drive

7/17/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Christ United Methodist Church, 1020 S. Valley Forge Road

7/19/2017: 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., North Penn High School, 1340 Valley Forge Road

7/22/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Grace Mennonite Church, 630 York Ave.

7/24/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Covenant Community Fellowship Church, 1080 Sumneytown Pike

Norristown

7/25/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Norristown State Hospital, Building 33, 1001 Sterigere St.

Oaks

7/12/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Hampton Inn & Suites, 100 Cresson Blvd.

7/12/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Upper Providence Township Building, 1286 Black Rock Road

Plymouth Meeting

7/17/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Church on the Mall, 500 W. Germantown Pike

Pottstown

7/17/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Comfort Inn, 99 Robinson St.

Souderton

7/23/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, 2021 E. Township Line Road

7/25/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Calvary Church of Souderton, 820 Route 113

Tylersport

7/24/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Tylersport Volunteer Fire Company, 125 Ridge Road

West Conshohocken

7/13/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive

Wynnewood

7/7/2017: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., Lankenau Medical Center, 100 Lancaster Ave.

7/24/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Main Line Reform Temple, 410 Montgomery Ave.

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).

With reporting from Patch correspondent Scott Daniel

Image via Shutterstock