(EVANSVILLE) – May is National Military Appreciation Month. Honor Flight of Southern Indiana and the American Red Cross are teaming up to honor the sacrifices made by military heroes and their families. Roll up a sleeve and give blood at the Honoring Heroes Blood Drive Monday, May 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Red Cross Southwestern Indiana Chapter, located at 29 S. Stockwell Road, in Evansville.
As a special thank you, all presenting donors will receive a free commemorative T-shirt, while supplies last.
With the COVID-19 pandemic preventing large public observances and remembrances, the Honoring Heroes blood drive provides an opportunity for individuals who are healthy and well to make a blood donation in honor of local military members and veterans while adhering to social distancing guidelines.
“The community has a unique opportunity during this challenging time to come together to serve our neighbors and honor our military heroes,” said Cyndi Dahl, regional donor services executive for the Red Cross River Valley Blood Services Region. “Donating blood is an important way we can support our health care system while esteeming the dedicated service of our military who share the mission of helping to save lives. We’re proud to partner with Honor Flight of Southern Indiana in continuing this annual tradition.”
For more than 130 years, the Red Cross has been dedicated to serving members of the military, veterans, and their families, and that commitment never waivers. Red Cross is the largest provider of free, professional volunteer services to our recovering wounded warriors and their families, providing both clinical and non-clinical care and aid in more than 78 Military Treatment facilities, and 160 VA hospitals and clinics.
Blood donated through the Red Cross is distributed to about 2,600 hospitals across the country for patients in need, including patients at many U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers. Blood donation is essential to ensuring the health of our communities. The need for blood is constant, and volunteer donors are the only source of blood for those in need. With no known end date in this fight against coronavirus, the Red Cross needs the help of donors and blood drive hosts to maintain a sufficient blood supply for weeks to come.
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions have been implemented to ensure the health of Red Cross donors, employees, and volunteers.
This is the time to take care of one another. Healthy individuals who are feeling well are asked to make an appointment to donate later this month and after by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, calling 1-800-RED- CROSS or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Donors are also asked to make an appointment to donate in order to help manage the flow of donors appropriately in support of social distancing practices.
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, and enter sponsor code Honor 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 and platelet donors can 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, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% 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 RedCross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
