Give blood or platelets now and help save lives

The American Red Cross is facing a critical blood shortage and is issuing an emergency call for eligible blood and platelet donors of all blood types to give now and help save lives.

Blood donations have fallen short of expectations for the past two months, resulting in about 61,000 fewer donations than needed and causing a significant draw down of the Red Cross blood supply. The shortfall is the equivalent of the Red Cross not collecting any blood donations for more than four days.

How to Help
To schedule an appointment to donate, use the free Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Summer Months Lead to Shortage
Blood shortages often worsen around Independence Day due to many fewer volunteer-hosted blood drives at places of work, worship or community gathering, and this year is no exception. Nearly 700 fewer blood drives are scheduled during the Independence Day week than the weeks before and after the holiday.

Overall, the summer months are among the most challenging times of the year for blood and platelet donations as regular donors delay giving while they vacation and participate in summer activities. In a recent survey of Red Cross blood donors, more than 73 percent indicated vacation plans this summer, many of them occurring the weeks before and after Independence Day.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities July 5-25
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Dewitt County >

Clinton
7/26/2017: 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., DeWitt Savings Bank, 302 W. Main St
8/3/2017: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., St. John's Hall, 514 North Monroe

Farmer City
7/17/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion, 755 Stensel Drive
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Ford County >

Gibson City
7/5/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Gibson City American Lutheran Church, 905 East 1st Street
8/2/2017: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., Gibson City Melvin-Sibley High School, 815 North Church Street
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Iroquois County >

Cissna Park
7/12/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion, 124 South Second Street

Gilman
7/6/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran, 116 N. Thomas

Watseka
7/5/2017: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 301 S.Fourth
7/28/2017: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Heritage Woods of Watseka, 577 E Martin Ave
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Kankakee County >

Aroma Park
7/22/2017: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., United Methodist Church, 3rd and Division

Bourbonnais
7/6/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kankakee Blood Donation Center, 20 Heritage Drive
7/7/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Northfield Square Mall, 1600 N. St. Rt. 50
7/13/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kankakee Blood Donation Center, 20 Heritage Drive
7/20/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kankakee Blood Donation Center, 20 Heritage Drive
7/27/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kankakee Blood Donation Center, 20 Heritage Drive
8/3/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kankakee Blood Donation Center, 20 Heritage Drive

Bradley
7/10/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Moose Lodge, 730 N Kinzie Ave

Herscher
7/25/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 225 E. Third
8/3/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Herscher Christian Church, 30 Tobey Drive

Kankakee
7/21/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Kankakee County Courthouse, 450 E. Court St.
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Livingston County >

Cullom
7/5/2017: 2:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., St. John's Lutheran Church, PO Box 275

Fairbury
7/26/2017: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 200 E. Maple Street

Flanagan
7/24/2017: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., American Legion, Main Street

Odell
7/13/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 108 Tremont Street

Pontiac
7/26/2017: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., VFW, 531 Lincoln Avenue

Vermilion County >

Hoopeston
7/31/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 915 E. Orange St. P.O. Box 297
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For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

94.1 WGFA