All those who come out to give blood or platelets in January will receive a $5 Dunkin’ Donuts card* as a thank you for helping save lives through blood donation
ALBANY, NY — The American Red Cross has a severe winter blood shortage and is issuing an emergency call for blood and platelet donors to make a donation appointment now and help save patient lives.
Hectic holiday schedules for many regular blood donors contributed to about 37,000 fewer donations in November and December than what was needed. Snowstorms and severe weather have also impacted donations. Nearly 100 blood drives were forced to cancel in December, resulting in more than 3,100 blood donations going uncollected.
“Blood and platelet donations are critically needed in the coming days so that patients can continue to receive the lifesaving treatments they are counting on,” said Sonja Ronovech, district manager of the New York-Penn Red Cross Blood Services Region. “We encourage donors to invite a family member or friend to donate with them to help meet patient needs. Right now, blood and platelet donations are being distributed to hospitals faster than they are coming in.”
For the 10th year, the American Red Cross and Dunkin’ Donuts will partner in January to help increase donations and reward generous donors. Through the Dunkin’ Donors Make a Difference campaign, all those who come to give blood or platelets in January at Red Cross blood drives in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and parts of New York will receive a $5 Dunkin’ Donuts card. The $5 DD card can be used toward the purchase of any item at participating Dunkin’ Donuts – including coffee, hot chocolate and baked goods, among other items. In addition, the DD card features a Red Cross logo, is reloadable and can also be enrolled in the DD Perks® Rewards program.
How to help
Find a blood donation opportunity and schedule an appointment to donate by using the free Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). The Red Cross is extending hours at many donation sites for more donors to give blood or platelets. Overall, the Red Cross has added nearly 200 hours to blood donation centers and community blood drives across the country over the next few weeks. Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help speed up the donation process.
“In about an hour, you can help save someone’s life. This simple act can have a profound impact on another human being,” said Ronovech.
Who blood donations help
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all require blood to save their lives.
In 2013, Dante Gallucci was a freshman at Schalmont High School when he was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer called T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. While being treated for cancer, he received blood transfusions.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities
American Red Cross Blood Donation Center:
Albany Everett Road Blood Donation Center
33 Everett Rd.
Albany, NY 12205
Monday: 7a.m. -2:30 p.m.
Tuesday-Thursday: 11:30 a.m. -7:00 p.m.
Friday-Sunday: 7:00 a.m. -2:30 p.m.
Albany
Albany
1/4/2017: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Albany Memorial Hospital, 600 Northern Blvd
1/10/2017: 7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 113 Holland Avenue
1/10/2017: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Empire State Plaza New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, 3 Empire State Plaza
1/11/2017: 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Empire State Plaza, Concourse next to Hallmark Store
1/12/2017: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue
1/17/2017: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., South Colonie Teachers, 329 Sand Creek Road
1/18/2017: 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Empire State Plaza, Concourse next to Hallmark Store
1/21/2017: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Westmere Fire District, 1741 Western Avenue
Cohoes
1/16/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Cohoes-Waterford Elks, 45 N Mohawk Street
Delmar
1/11/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Delmar Reformed Church, 386 Delaware Avenue
Guilderland
1/17/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Guilderland Public Library, 2228 Western Avenue
Latham
1/12/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., New York State School Boards Association, 24 Century Hill Drive, Suite 200
Medusa
1/21/2017: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Rensselaerville Volunteer Ambulance, 380 Fox Creek Road
Voorheesville
1/7/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Voorheesville Fire Department, 12 Altamont Road
_______________
Fulton
Gloversville
1/17/2017: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Nathan Littauer Hospital, 99 East State Street
Johnstown
1/16/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Holiday Inn, 308 North Comrie Avenue
Northville
1/6/2017: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., The Baptist Church of Northville, Corner of Bridge and Main Streets
_______________
Montgomery
Amsterdam
1/5/2017: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., United Methodist Church of Amsterdam, 347 Golf Course Road
_______________
Rensselaer
Berlin
1/16/2017: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., United Methodist Church, 17 South Main Street
East Greenbush
1/16/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., East Greenbush Community Library, 10 Community Way
Nassau
1/18/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Marys Church, 26 Church Street
Rensselaer
1/21/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Rensselaer Fire Dept., 2 St. Francis Place
Troy
1/4/2017: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Rensselaer Technology Park, 100 Defreest Drive
1/4/2017: 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., St Mary’s Hospital, 1300 Massachusetts Avenue
1/6/2017: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Brunswick Community – Urgent Care, 730 Hoosick Road
1/7/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Our Lady of Victory Church, 55 North Lake Avenue
1/13/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Troy Boys and Girls Club, 1700 7th Avenue
_______________
Saratoga
Ballston Spa
1/17/2017: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Saratoga Bridges, 16 Saratoga Bridges Boulevard, Bldg. 2
1/17/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Town of Milton Community Center, 310 Northline Road
Clifton Park
1/6/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Southern Saratoga YMCA, 1 Wall St.
1/12/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., King of Kings Lutheran Church, 1593 Crescent Road
1/18/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Legion Post 1450, 275 Grooms Road
Corinth
1/13/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., YMCA of Saratoga Corinth Branch, 119 Gabriel Road
Gansevoort
1/20/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Wilton Fire Department, 270 Ballard Road
Greenfield Center
1/9/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Greenfield Community Center, 25 Wilton Road
Malta
1/14/2017: 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., St. Peter Lutheran Church, 2776 Route 9
Mechanicville
1/17/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., All Saints on the Hudson, 52 Williams Road
Saratoga Springs
1/9/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Marriott Courtyard, 11 Excelsior Avenue
1/14/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Rising Sun Masonic Lodge, 687 North Broadway
1/17/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Capital District Developmental Disabilities Services Offices, 3 Care Lane
Waterford
1/5/2017: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Soft-tex, 428 Hudson River Road
Wilton
1/12/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., DA Collins, 269 Ballard Road
_______________
Schenectady
Glenville
1/7/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Church of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Saratoga Road
Niskayuna
1/5/2017: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Niskayuna Fire Company, 2772 Troy Schenectady Road
Schenectady
1/11/2017: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Union College, 807 Union Street
1/16/2017: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Lowe’s Niskayuna, Mohawk Commons, 422 Balltown Road
1/19/2017: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Capital Living Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre, 526 Altamont Avenue
1/20/2017: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Bright Hope Center, 1856 State Street
_______________
Schoharie
Middleburgh
1/13/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Our Lady of the Valley, 24 Wells Avenue
Schoharie
1/9/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Schoharie County ARC, 121 Opportunity Drive
_______________
Warren
Glens Falls
1/5/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Christ Church, 54 Bay Street
1/10/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Glens Falls National Bank, 20 South Street
1/12/2017: 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Glens Falls Hospital, 100 Park Street
1/13/2017: 6:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Glens Falls Hospital, 100 Park Street
1/20/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Christ Church, 54 Bay Street
North Creek
1/18/2017: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Adirondack Tri-County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Inc., 112 Ski Bowl Road
Queensbury
1/5/2017: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Lowes, 251 Quaker Road
Warrensburg
1/5/2017: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 232 Golf Course Road
_______________
Washington
Cambridge
1/14/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., American Legion Post 634, 2106 Route 22
Fort Ann
1/5/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Ft. Ann Rescue Squad, 11287 Route 149
Greenwich
1/21/2017: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., BPOE 2223, Route 40
Hartford
1/16/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Hartford Fire Department, Route149 and Route 40
Salem
1/11/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., First United Presbyterian Church, W. Broadway
Whitehall
1/4/2017: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Whitehall High School New Addition, 87 Buckley Road
_______________
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
###
*Card value expires February 28, 2017.