Lewisburg, WSS blood donation opportunities upcoming

Donations needed now to help those battling cancer and other serious conditions

The American Red Cross continues to experience an emergency blood shortage that has caused the blood supply to drop to the lowest post-summer level in at least six years. 

Upcoming donation opportunities include:

• Lewisburg – Oct. 25: 12 noon to 6 p.m., Lewisburg United Methodist Church, 214 E. Washington Street, and Oct. 26: 12 noon to 6 p.m., Greenbrier Valley Church of the Nazarene, Skylar Drive Entrance for Fellowship Hall
• White Sulphur Springs – Oct. 22: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., White Sulphur Spring Public Library, 344 Main Street West.

With less than a day’s supply of certain blood types in recent weeks, the Red Cross asks donors of all blood types – especially type O – to make an appointment to give blood as soon as possible to ensure patients can receive the lifesaving transfusions they rely on. Appointments can be made by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Fall is typically a time when the blood supply rebounds from summer blood shortages, but a surge in COVID-19 cases across the U.S. due to the delta variant has contributed to the lowest donor turnout of the year. o shore up inventory, the Red Cross must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week this month to meet hospital and patient needs. 

Donors are asked to make an appointment 

All those who come to donate in October will receive a link by email to claim a free Zaxby’s Signature Sandwich reward or get a $5 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice.

*Plus, all those who come to give Oct. 11-31 will receive a bonus $5 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice.*

People across the country depend on the kindness of blood donors. Donors are urged to make an appointment to give blood as soon as possible by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-73-2767).

Blood drive safety

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions - including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.