Snow, Winds, Rain, and Floods, Oh, My! Blood Donors Needed.

Winter weather has taken its toll with a quadruple punch of snow, winds, rain, and flooding in the Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, this nasty weather has led to numerous missed appointments and a serious decline in blood donations.

Schedule your appointment at a blood drive near you or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

It’s the blood that is already on the shelves that helps save lives before, during and after more extreme weather conditions, so the Red Cross is urging immediate blood and platelet donations in areas where it’s safe for donors to do so.

Since platelets have a shelf-life of just five days, it is imperative that there are enough platelets on hand to meet the needs of patients across the country.

Nationwide, around 44,000 blood donations are needed each and every day to meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients, and children with blood disorders. These patients and others rely on blood products during their treatment. If blood collections are negatively impacted by winter weather, the long-term care needs of these patients could also be affected.

When winter weather strikes, this need does not diminish, even though blood donors may find it difficult or impossible to get to a convenient donation opportunity. If people will make an appointment to donate blood in the upcoming days and weeks ahead, blood will be available should conditions prohibit people from traveling or coming to blood drives.

It is crucial that we build our blood supply for all patients in need and regain a sufficient supply for the unexpected. Please help now. Make a blood donation appointment online or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Teen Battles Sickle Cell Anemia Through Education and Volunteer Efforts

Latay Hammick, 13, promotes the need for donors as she herself faces a blood disorder. Read Latay's full story in The Skanner and give patients a fighting chance; donate with the Red Cross and join the Be The Match and Donate Life Northwest registries.

MLK Blood, Bone Marrow, and Organ, Eye and Tissue Donor Registry Drives will be held in Salem and Bend on January 16 and January 21 in Portland

Those who wish to speak to Latay Hammick, her family, or a Be The Match or Donate Life Northwest representative in person will have the opportunity to do so at Portland's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blood, Bone Marrow, and Organ, Eye and Tissue Donor Registry Drive. This important event takes place on Saturday, January 21 from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Red Cross Portland Donor Center (3131 N. Vancouver Avenue).

Also at the Portland event will be Donate Life Northwest heart recipient Rosie Tabb. Rosie has worked as an American Red Cross donor recruiter and received blood transfusions during her heart transplant. To make a potentially lifesaving blood donation at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blood, Bone Marrow, and Organ, Eye and Tissue Donor Registry Drive, please call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., community members can donate blood, learn more about bone marrow, organ, eye, and tissue donation, and sign up for the donor registries at all three events. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blood, Bone Marrow, and Organ, Eye and Tissue Donor Registry Drives are co-hosted by the American Red Cross, Be The Match and Donate Life Northwest.

All participants at this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blood, Bone Marrow, and Organ, Eye and Tissue Donor Registry Drives will receive a free Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative lapel pin (while supplies last). These blood drives will also give donors the chance to speak with the Red Cross about our volunteer programs, get informed about disaster preparedness, and share with other volunteers about programs that they may be involved in.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. symbolized equal access for all. This includes equal opportunity for the lifesaving gift of blood, bone marrow and organ, eye and tissue transplants. You can make an incredible difference with your donation.

2nd Annual Stormtroopers vs. Klingons Blood Drive is Tomorrow!

Sci-fi fans! Read 'Star Trek' vs. 'Star Wars:' The ultimate showdown from CNN's blog, then be sure to roll up your sleeves tomorrow and prove you're the ultimate fan at our 2nd Annual Stormtroopers vs. Klingons Blood Drive! (12/31 at the Portland Donor Center, 9AM-2:30PM)

Also - be sure to pick up this week's copies of Willamette Week and Portland Mercury and visit PDX PIPELINE to see our ads on the drive!

The Perfect Gift

You can gift wrap a sweater. You can place a bow on a shiny new bicycle. You can fill a gift bag with holiday cookies. One thing you can’t put in a box and place under the tree is the perfect gift – a lifesaving blood donation.

When you donate blood, you give the perfect gift - another hug, another laugh, another smile, another chance - to someone in need of blood.

Think outside the box this holiday season. The perfect gift is at your nearest American Red Cross blood drive or blood donation center. And, unlike the latest fashion trend, video game or golf club, the perfect gift costs nothing but an hour of your time.

Give the perfect gift and help a family member, friend or someone you’ve never met unwrap a lifetime of memories.

The Red Cross is proud to present “The Perfect Gift,” a video highlighting the importance of blood donation. Hopefully, it inspires you to give blood this holiday season and throughout the year. Call 1-800 RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org to schedule an appointment today.

Ways to share the message!

Send an eCard
Download our Audio PSA :30 second (MP3)
Download our Audio PSA :60 second (MP3)
Download our Video PSA :30 second
Download our Video PSA :60 second
Use a Web Banner

Also, be sure to mention #perfectgift when sharing!