Four blood drives will take place in Cherry Hill Township over the next two weeks.
The American Red Cross is calling for all eligible blood and platelet donors to make an appointment to give to help offset the weather-related shortfall in donations.
More than 100 Red Cross blood drives across the eastern United States were canceled due to extreme winter conditions. These cancellations resulted in a shortfall of nearly 4,500 blood and platelet donations on March 14 alone.
“The need for blood does not get a snow day,” said Alana Mauger, communications manager for the Penn Jersey Blood Services Region “For those in storm affected areas, please come out to donate when travel is safe. For those in unaffected areas, please help restock the blood shelves for patients now.”
In Cherry Hill, there are four blood drives taking place over the next couple of weeks:
· March 22: 2 to 7 p.m., Devry University, 921 Haddonfield Road, Suite D, Cherry Hill
· March 27: 2 to 7 p.m., Cherry Hill Public Library, 1100 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill
· March 30: 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 2001 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill
· March 31: 2 to 7 p.m., Lourdes Care, 1 Brace Road, Cherry Hill
To make an appointment, download he American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1–800-RED CROSS (1–800- 733–2767). 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 in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), 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.
