Blood donations needed to help with shortage

The American Red Cross is reporting a severe shortage of type O blood and urges type O donors and eligible blood and platelet donors of all blood types to give now to ensure lifesaving patient care isn’t impacted this winter.

Recent snowstorms and severe weather in many parts of the country have forced hundreds of blood drive cancellations, causing more than 20,000 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected.

Individuals of all blood types — especially type O — are asked to make an appointment to donate by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).

To celebrate the final season of “Game of Thrones,” HBO and the Red Cross have partnered to ask fans and blood donors to “Bleed #ForTheThrone” this March. Those who donate through March 17 will be entered for a chance to win one of five trips to the Season 8 world premiere of the series. The trip includes travel for two, up to two nights hotel accommodations and a $250 gift card for expenses.

Additionally, those who come to donate March 7 through 12 also will receive exclusive “Game of Thrones” swag, including a T-shirt, stickers to unlock a unique Snapchat filter and other items.

Local donation opportunities include 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Tea Creek Baptist Church, 5280 S. County Road 300W, North Vernon; 3 to 7 p.m. March 11 at Reddington Christian Church, 10516 N. U.S. 31, Seymour; 2 to 7 p.m. March 12 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 605 S. Walnut St., Seymour; and 1 to 6 p.m. March 18 at First United Methodist Church, 240 Poplar St., North Vernon.