From Red Cross:
Western North Carolina, January 2016 – This January, during National Blood Donor Month, the American Red Cross encourages people to roll up their sleeves to give blood to help maintain a sufficient blood supply for patients.
Since 1970, National Blood Donor Month has been observed in January to not only honor blood and platelet donors, but also to help increase donations during the winter months. Maintaining a sufficient blood supply for patients is difficult at this time of year because extreme winter weather and seasonal illnesses often impact donor turnout.
Karla Essmiller became a blood donor in college, but the importance of giving blood hit home when several family members had medical emergencies. “It only takes once sitting in a hospital, praying that your loved one will live through the day, to know how thankful you are for every single thing done to help them,” she said. “Donating blood is a simple gift that I can make that may help up to three people live another day. That makes me feel like a hero.”
The Red Cross encourages eligible donors to resolve to give blood regularly, beginning in January. Donors with all blood types are needed, especially those with types AB, O, B negative and A negative.
To make an appointment to donate blood, download the free Red Cross Blood Donor App from app stores, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
ASHEVILLE BLOOD DONOR CENTER
100 Edgewood Road, Asheville
Please call 1-800-REDCROSS to schedule an appointment.
Every Monday 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Every Tuesday 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Every Wednesday 7:30 am to 12:30 pm
Receive a $10 Neo Burrito Gift Certificate!
Every Thursday 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Saturday, January 2 7:30 am to 12:30 pm
Community Blood Drives
BUNCOMBE COUNTY
Wednesday, January 6
Black Mountain Neuro Medical Treatment Center
932 Old U.S. Highway 70, Black Mountain
11:30 am to 4:00 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Brenda Franklin at (828) 259-6908 ext. 146.
Thursday, January 7
Francis Asbury United Methodist Church
725 Asbury Road, Candler
1:00 pm to 5:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please visit redcrossblood.org.
Thursday, January 7
Lutheran Church of the Nativity
2425 Hendersonville Road, Arden
2:30 pm to 6:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call the Church Office at (828) 684-0352.
Friday, January 8
Lowe’s 2201 Arden
19 McKenna Road, Arden
12:00 pm to 4:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please visit redcrossblood.org.
Saturday, January 9
Ingles Markets Inc.
2299 Us Hwy 70, Swannanoa
1:30 pm to 6:00 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please visit redcrossblood.org.
Sunday, January 10
Weaverville United Methodist Church
85 North Main Street, Weaverville
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Zane Cole at (828) 658-9908.
Friday, January 15
Reynolds Fire Department
235 Charlotte Highway, Asheville
11:00 am to 3:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please visit redcrossblood.org.
Sunday, January 17
Arden Community Health Fair at the Arden Seventh Day Adventist Church
35 Airport Road, Arden
12:30 pm to 5:00 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Sharon Brown at (828) 684-4525.
Monday, January 18
Arden Community Health Fair at the Arden Seventh Day Adventist Church
35 Airport Road, Arden
8:00 am – 12:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Sharon Brown at (828) 684-4525.
Tuesday, January 19
Skyland United Methodist Church
1984 Hendersonville Road, Asheville
2:00 pm to 7:00 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call the Church Office at (828)684-7283.
Wednesday, January 20
Asheville Christian Academy
74 Riverwood Road, Swannanoa
10:00 am to 2:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Julie Rasku at (828) 581-2200 or visitredcrossblood.org.
Wednesday, January 20
Emerald Ridge Rehabilitation and Care Center
25 Reynolds Mountain Boulevard, Asheville
11:00 am to 3:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Ginger Johnston at (828) 645-6619 ext. 202.
Friday, January 22
Genova Diagnostics
84 Peachtree Drive, Suite 200, Asheville
11:00 am to 3:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please visit redcrossblood.org.
Sunday, January 24
Petco
825 Brevard Road, Asheville
10:00 am to 2:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Cindy Hanson at (828) 665-7977 or visit redcrossblood.org.
Monday, January 25
Candler Elementary School
121 Candler School Road, Candler
12:00 pm to 4:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call the School office at (828) 670-5018.
Friday, January 29
Black Mountain Fire Department
106 Montreat Road, Black Mountain
10:30 am to 4:00 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please visit redcrossblood.org.
Saturday, January 30
First Baptist Church
503 Park Street, Swannanoa
9:00 am to 1:00 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call the Church office at (828) 686-5123.
Saturday, January 30
William Peterson Memorial Blood Drive at the Weaverville United Methodist Church
85 North Main Street, Weaverville
2:00 pm to 6:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Eirene Peterson at (828) 645-8777.
McDOWELL COUNTY
Wednesday, January 13
McDowell Tech College
54 College Drive, Marion
10:00 am to 2:30 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Donna Short at (828) 652-0631.
Thursday, January 28
Walmart 1694
2875 Sugar Hill Road, Marion
12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
For more information or to schedule an appointment please visit redcrossblood.org.
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 (16 with parental consent in some states), 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 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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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