Day of Caring Blood Drive seeks donors

VW independent/submitted information

Thousands of blood donations are needed each and every day to help meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients, children with blood disorders, and others. To help make a difference, Van Wert County residents are invited to give blood with the American Red Cross at the Van Wert Day of Caring blood drive on Friday, September 28.

The blood drive will be held in the Family Life Center of Trinity Friends Church, 605 N. Franklin St. in Van Wert. To schedule an appointment, visit the American Red Cross website  (listed below) or call 800.RED.CROSS. Sponsor code is VWDOC.

This special blood drive is part of the United Way’s Day of Caring in Van Wert, which promotes community service. The Red Cross is seeking 200 donors to roll up a sleeve and give. All those who come to donate blood at this blood drive will receive a Day of Caring t-shirt and food prepared by Vantage Career Center.

As the Red Cross responds to wildfires, flooding, house fires, and hurricanes, including Hurricane Florence, eligible donors are reminded that giving blood during National Preparedness Month in September is one way to help ensure the Red Cross is prepared to respond to patient emergencies across the country every day.

“Van Wert is a caring community, and what better way for its residents to show they care than by helping patients in need and giving blood at the Day of Caring Blood Drive?” said Marianne Hardesty, donor recruitment account manager for the Red Cross.

Every two seconds in the United States blood is needed to respond to patient emergencies. The Red Cross must collect approximately 13,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals nationwide.

For more information, access the Red Cross website at http://redcrossblood.org.