Give blood with the American Red Cross before the holiday season and help save lives.
(Oct. 25, 2016) – The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood to help stock the shelves before the busy holiday season.
Many regular donors delay giving between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day because of holiday activities. This often causes a drop in donated blood available for patients. Therefore, more donations are needed in the weeks leading up to the holidays to help ensure the blood supply is sufficient through the winter months.
For donor Katie Osorio, giving a little bit of time is worth it because she’s giving someone a chance at life. “Someone’s mother, brother, sister, father or the love of someone’s life has been given back to their loved ones all because I gave something that I could. It takes so little from me and gives a world back to another.”
To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors are encouraged to make appointments and complete the RapidPass online health history questionnaire at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass to save time when donating.
American Red Cross blood donation centers:
Kalispell Blood Donation Center, 126 North Meridian Road
Monday: 1:30pm–5:30pm
Friday: 10am–2pm
Bozeman Blood Donation Center, 300 North Willson
Monday: 1pm–6pm
Friday: 10am–2pm
Helena Blood Donation Center, 3150 N. Montana Ave., Suite B
Tuesday: 1pm–6pm
Friday: 9:30am–1:30pm
Missoula Blood Donation Center, 2401 North Reserve Street, Suites 6 and 7
Friday: 10am–2pm
Monday, Nov. 14: 2pm–6pm
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Flathead
Columbia Falls
11/3/2016: 12pm–5pm, North Valley Community Center, 235 Nucleus Ave
Kalispell
11/10/2016: 10:30am–3:30pm, Cold Stone Creamery, 110 Hutton Ranch Road
11/11/2016: 11am–3pm, Imperial Dry Cleaners and Laundromats, 720 West Idaho
11/12/2016: 10am–3pm, Kmart, 2024 Hwy 2 East
11/15/2016: 9:30am–2:15pm, US Forest Service Offices, 650 Wolfpack Way
Gallatin
Bozeman
11/1/2016: 9am–12:30pm, First Security Bank of Bozeman, 208 E. Main
11/2/2016: 10am–4:30pm, Montana State University Student Union Building, MSU-SUB
11/3/2016: 9:45am–4:15pm, Montana State University Student Union Building, MSU-SUB
11/10/2016: 11am–6pm, Hope Lutheran Church, 2152 W. Graf Street
Lewis and Clark
Fort Harrison
11/8/2016: 8am–2pm, National Guard Armory / HAFRC Ctr, National Guard Armory, 1956 Mt. Majo Street
Helena
11/4/2016: 10:30am–4pm, St Peter’s Hospital, 2475 Broadway
11/9/2016: 10am–3pm, Blue Cross / Blue Shield, 3645 Alice St.
11/10/2016: 10am–3:15pm, Donaldson Building, 1115 North Roberts
11/10/2016: 11am–3:15pm, Helena College, University of Montana, 2300 Airport Road, Airport Campus
11/14/2016: 9:30am–3:45pm, Covenant United Methodist Church, 2330 Broadway
Mineral
Superior
11/3/2016: 1pm–5:15pm, Superior Area Ambulance Center, Corner of Brooklyn and 5th Ave E
Missoula
Frenchtown
11/8/2016: 9am–2:30pm, Frenchtown High School, 17620 Frontage Road
Missoula
11/3/2016: 11am–4pm, Miller Hall, Miller Hall, U of M Campus
11/7/2016: 10am–4:30pm, University of Montana University Center, University Center, Ballroom
11/9/2016: 9am–4:30pm, University of Montana Continuing Education Building, 32 Campus Dr, University of Montana Campus
Ravalli
Hamilton
11/4/2016: 9am–1:15pm, Bitterroot National Forest, 1801 North 1st Street
11/8/2016: 1pm–5:45pm, Grace Lutheran Church, 275 Hattie Lane
Sanders
Hot Springs
11/4/2016: 10am–3pm, Hot Springs School, 325 Broadway
Noxon
11/1/2016: 1:30pm–6pm, Noxon High School, 300 Noxon Avenue
How to donate blood
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.
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
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 redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
