Blood donations needed in wake of Florence

Area residents will have at least four opportunities to give blood in October and help with shortages caused in the Southeast because of Hurricane Florence.

The schedule of blood drives includes:

8 a.m. to noon Oct. 7 at St. Paul Lutheran Church Borchers, 10792 N. County Road 210E, Seymour.

Noon to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at First Baptist Church, 505 Community Drive, Seymour.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 20 at Vallonia Christian Church, 2344 S. Main St., Vallonia.

1 to 6 p.m. Oct. 26 at First United Methodist Church, 240 Poplar St., North Vernon.

Nearly 200 Red Cross blood drives in the Southeast were forced to cancel, resulting in more than 5,200 uncollected blood and platelet donations.

Donors of all blood types are urged to help restore hope to patients across the country by making an appointment today to give blood or platelets.

“There is an especially critical need for platelets to help cancer patients and type O blood donations for ongoing patient care and emergencies,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president of Red Cross Blood Service.

Appointments can be made by using the Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 800-733-2767.

Financial donations also are needed and allow the Red Cross to provide disaster relief immediately. Help people affected by Hurricane Florence by visiting redcross.org, calling 800-RED CROSS or texting the word FLORENCE to 90999 to make a $10 donation.