TOLEDO, Ohio — You can help victims of Hurricane Dorian by sharing the call to replenish the blood supply.
As the American Red Cross works around the clock supporting those impacted by Hurricane Dorian, providing food, shelter and comfort, individuals outside the affected areas are urged to help, by giving blood or platelets.
Hurricane Dorian has forced the closure of blood donation centers and the cancellation of blood drives in its path.
Ahead of the storm, the Red Cross moved blood donations to the most impacted areas, but now those supplies are running low.
In fact, the American Red Cross stocked hospitals in the Southeast before Hurricane Dorian made landfall in the U.S.
Blood cannot be manufactured, and must be given by people like you.
Christina Berning, team supervisor for the American Red Cross of Northwest Ohio explained, "Currently, during the hurricane season, we are reaching out to support American Red Cross down in the southern states. With their demand and their need and their not being able to collect donations, we're asking the community to come together and join to help support that, so all the units collected here could be distributed down there for immediate need."
Just in our area, there are 10 blood drives being held every day, or you can visit the donation center in west Toledo.
Hurricanes can also disrupt blood drives, increasing the need for giving here locally.
Can't give blood? You can also chip in by making a financial donation to support relief efforts.
For more information on how and where you can donate in our community, here's How to help:
Donors of all blood types are urgently needed to ensure a sufficient supply for patients. Type O and B blood donors are especially needed. Make an appointment to donate blood now by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
Financial donations are also needed and allow the Red Cross to make a difference in the lives of people impacted by Hurricane Dorian. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word DORIAN to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Financial donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster.
Up-to-date information about how the Red Cross is responding to Hurricane Dorian is available at redcross.org.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Sept. 9-30
(ongoing) Toledo Blood Donation Center
3510 Executive Parkway, Toledo
Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays: 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Tuesdays, Thursdays: 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Michigan
Monroe County
Lambertville
Sept. 23: 1:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Lambertville United Methodist, 8165 Douglas Road
Milan
Sept. 25: 1 p.m.-6 p.m., Milan American Legion Post # 268, 44 Wabash St.
Sept. 27: 1 p.m.-6 p.m., Milan Senior and Community Center, 45 Neckel Court
Monroe
Wednesday: 12 p.m.-5 p.m., Monroe Fire Hall, 15331 S. Dixie Hwy
Friday: 1 p.m.-6 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church - East, 6272 W. Albain Road
Saturday: 8 a.m.-2 p.m., St. Marys Church, 127 N. Monroe St.
Sept. 23: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Moose Lodge 884, 1320 N. Macomb
Sept. 23: 12:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Monroe Free Methodist Church, 3928 E Dunbar Road
Sept. 24: 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital, 718 N. Macomb St.
Sept. 27: 12 p.m.-6 p.m., Detroit Beach Boat Club, 3028 Harborview
Ohio
Lucas County
Maumee
9/20/2019: 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., St. Luke's Hospital, 5901 Monclova Road
Sylvania
Sept. 20: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Kingston Residence, 4125 King
Sept. 21: 8 a.m.-1 p.m., St. Joseph Catholic Church, 5373 South Main St.
Toledo
Sunday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., American Legion Hall, 2020 West Alexis Road
Sept. 25: 12 p.m.-6 p.m., Student Union, 2801 W. Bancroft
Sept. 26: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Horizon Science Academy, 2600 W. Sylvania Avenue
Waterville
Sept. 30: 1 p.m.-7 p.m., Waterville Community Church, 8217 Dutch Road
Lakeside Marblehead
Sept. 28: 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Catawba Township Hall, 3307 North West Catawba Road
Oak Harbor
Friday: 12 p.m.-6 p.m., St. John's Lutheran, 122 W. Ottawa
Port Clinton
Thursday: 12 p.m.-6 p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 50 N.E. Catawba Road
Sept. 26: 1 p.m.-6 p.m., Port Clinton Elks, 231 Buckeye Boulevard
Bowling Green
Sept. 18: 12 p.m.-6 p.m., Peace Lutheran Church, 1021 W. Wooster St.
Sept. 19: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Bowling Green State University, Olscamp Hall
North Baltimore
Friday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., North Baltimore American Legion, 539 E. South
Pemberville
Sept. 17: 1 p.m.-7 p.m., Pemberville American Legion, 405 East Front St.
Perrysburg
Tuesday: 1 p.m.-6 p.m., Perrysburg Kroger, 27322 Carronade Drive
Sept. 20: 12 p.m.-6 p.m., Zoar Lutheran Church, 314 East Indiana Ave.
Sept. 24: 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Toth Elementary School, 200 East 7th St.
Portage
Sept. 17: 1 p.m.-6 p.m., Christ United Methodist Church, 301 West Main St.
Rossford
Sept. 22: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Local 8 Union Hall, 807 Lime City Road
Walbridge
Sept. 17: 12 p.m.-6 p.m., St. Jerome's Catholic Church, 300 Warner St.
Sept. 25: 1 p.m.-7 p.m., Mainstreet Church, 5465 Moline-Martin Road
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device 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 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 and platelet donors can 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, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
