Blood + Platelet Donations Are Desperately Needed, So Get Out And Give The Gift Of Life!

Contrary to what you may have seen on True Blood, there is no substitute for human blood, and The American Red Cross has issued an emergency call for blood and platelet donors of all blood types.

Summertime is the hardest time of the year for them to get donations, but it is also their busiest time of year! Donations were are down 10 percent in June nationwide, which works out to 50,000 fewer donations than they were expecting.

Why do people need platelets? Platelets are the cells necessary for blood clotting and are needed by leukemia and cancer patients, as well as those undergoing cardiac surgery, burn victims and people with bleeding disorders. Approximately 12 million units of platelets are transfused in the United States each year.

Blood donation only takes 30-45 minutes, and you can help save a life! To find out where your local blood bank is and where there will be blood drives in your community, you can contact these blood and platelet collection agencies.The most important thing is that all donations stay in Western New York, so give to help someone in your community and give the gift of life!

UNYTS has four fixed sites in Tonawanda, Downtown Buffalo, Southgate Plaza and Eastern Hills Mall, but there are also blood drives happening in these locations:

7/11 – Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital Lobby – 8:30a to 3:30p -- Donate Life Bus

7/11 – Buffalo and Erie Co. Public Library – 11a to 3p

7/12– Boy Scouts – Camp Haven – Donate Life Bus – 9a to 2p

7/13 – Camping World – Show Room – 11a to 2p

7/13 – Lackawanna Fun Days – Donate Life Bus – 12p to 44p

7/14 – Rotary Club of Niagara Co. Central – Donate Life Bus

The American Red Cross of Erie and Niagara Counties:

786 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14209
Phone: (716) 886-7500

Roswell Park is also in need of platelet donations! You can call the donation center at: 845-8275 or get more information online.