May 20, 2024
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Blood and platelet shortage continues. Donations urgently needed.

Here’s where to donate in Will County this November

By Denise M. Baran-Unland

The American Red Cross is also urging healthy donors of all blood types to give blood or platelets and help ensure a stable blood supply for patients this holiday season. (Photo by)

The American Red Cross is still experiencing an emergency shortage in blood and platelets.

In fact, the “current blood supply is the lowest the Red Cross has seen this time of year in more than a decade” and the shortage is negatively impacting the blood supply in the U.S. according to a news release from the Red Cross.

To encourage donations with the holidays approaching, the Red Cross said that anyone who donates blood through the Red Cross up to Nov. 23 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email, courtesy of Amazon. Red Cross donors will also be automatically entered to win a trip for two to Hawaii, thanks to Amazon Prime Video.

Winners will see where the series “I Know What You Did Last Summer” was filmed, which includes “round-trip airfare for two, hotel accommodations for nine nights, meals, $1,000 gift card for expenses and on-trip transportation with tour stops from Honolulu to Maui,” the release said.

Here’s where to donate:

Nov 6: 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., American Red Cross, 1293 Windham Parkway, Romeoville.

Nov. 16: 1 to 6 p.m. in the assembly hall gym at the University of St. Francis’ St. Clare Campus, 1550 Plainfield Road in Joliet. A news release from the Unversity of St. Francis said donors should consider making a Power Red donation if they are blood type O, B or A - donor, since “red blood cells are the most commonly transfused blood component,” the release said. Power Red donors give two units of red blood cells during one donation through the use of a special machine, according to the Red Cross website.

Nov. 19: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Community Service Council, 440 Quadrangle Dr., Suite C, Bolingbrook; and The Promenade Bolingbrook, 631 E. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook.

Schedule an appointment to give blood or platelets as soon as possible by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions on the day of your appointment.

Versiti Blood Center of Illinois has a donor facility at 2625 W. Jefferson St. in Joliet. Visit donate.illinois.versiti.org and click the “Schedule to Donate” tab.