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Blood shortage continues: Red Cross needs donors now
Importance-of-Blood-Donation

A thousand blood donations needed daily to prevent further delays in patient care

While donors across the country have rolled up a sleeve to give this summer, the need for blood and platelets remains crucial for patients relying on lifesaving transfusions. The American Red Cross continues to experience a severe blood shortage and donors of all blood types – especially type O and those giving platelets – are urged to make an appointment to give now. 

Right now, the Red Cross needs to collect more than 1,000 additional blood donations each day to meet current demand as hospitals respond to an unusually high number of traumas and emergency room visits, organ transplants and elective surgeries.

All who come to give July 7-31 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card via email and will also receive automatic entry for a chance to win gas for a year (a $5,000 value). More information and details are available at rcblood.org/fuel. Also, all those who come to donate throughout the entire month of July will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for four to Cedar Point or Knott’s Berry Farm. To learn more, visit rcblood.org/CedarFair.

Donors who give will help stock the shelves for the rest of the summer season. Schedule an appointment to give blood or platelets by using the 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.

In most cases, those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine may donate. However, knowing the name of the manufacturer of the vaccine they received is important in determining donation eligibility.

Upcoming local blood donation opportunities are as follows:

• July 22 – from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hughson Community Center, 2307 4th Street, Hughson;

Blood donations may be made at the Modesto Blood Donation Center, 1900 W. Orangeburg Avenue on the following dates:

• Friday, July 16 – 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.;

• Saturday, July 17 – 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m.

• Sunday, July 18 – 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.;

• Monday, July 19 – 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.;

• Tuesday, July 20 – 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.;

• Wednesday, July 21 – 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.;

• Thursday, July 22 – 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m.;

• Friday, July 23 –  8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.;

•  Saturday, July 24 – as 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m.;

• Sunday, July 25 – 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.;

• Monday, July 26 – 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.;

• Tuesday, July 27 – 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.;

• Wednesday, July 28 – 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.;

• Thursday, July 29 – 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m.;

• Friday, July 30 – 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.;

• Saturday, July 31 – 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Blood donations may be made at the Turlock Blood Donation Center, 655 E. Hawkeye Avenue on the following dates:

• Friday, July 16 – 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.;

• Saturday, July 17 – 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.;

• Sunday, July 18 – 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.;

• Monday, July 19 – 11:45 a.m. - 6:15 p.m.;

• Tuesday, July 20 – 11:45 a.m. - 6:15 p.m.;

• Wednesday, July 21 – 11:45 a.m. - 6:15 p.m.;

• Friday, July 23 – 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.;

• Saturday, July 24 – 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.; 

• Sunday, 25 – 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.;

• Monday, July 26 – 11:45 a.m. - 6:15 p.m.,

• Tuesday, July 27 – 11:45 a.m. - 6:15 p.m., 

• Wednesday, July 28 –11:45 a.m. - 6:15 p.m., 

• Friday, July 30 – 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., 

• Saturday, July 31 – 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.