The American Red Cross is urging eligible donors throughout Massachusetts to give blood or platelets following recent winter storms, which have compounded a severe winter blood shortage.  

 

Snow and icy roads forced more than 30 blood drives to cancel in the Massachusetts and Connecticut Blood Services Region over the last week, causing more than 1,100 donations to go uncollected. Since the beginning of the year, severe weather forced the cancellation of more than 300 blood drives in 30 states, resulting in over 12,000 uncollected donations.

 

“The need for blood doesn’t pause for severe weather – it’s constant,” said Alyson Barraza, communications manager of the Massachusetts and Connecticut Red Cross Blood Services Region. “Right now, blood and platelet donations are being distributed to hospitals faster than they are coming in. Eligible donors of all blood types are critically needed.”

 

How to help

Eligible donors can find a blood donation opportunity and schedule an appointment to donate by using the free Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). The Red Cross is extending hours at many donation sites for more donors to give blood or platelets. Overall, the Red Cross has added nearly 200 hours to blood donation centers and community blood drives across the country over the next few weeks. Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help speed up the donation process.

 

Who blood donations help

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all require blood to save their lives.

 

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Essex County:

Andover

2/22/2017: 1:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Saint Roberts Bellarmine Parish, 198 Haggetts Pond Road

2/25/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Masonic Lodge, 7 High Street

 

Beverly

2/24/2017: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Waring School, 35 Standley Street

 

Danvers

2/24/2017: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Ira Toyota of Danvers, 99-B Andover Street

 

Haverhill

2/23/2017: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Haverhill Elks Lodge, 24 Summer Street

 

Ipswich

2/14/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., John T Heard Masonic Lodge, 70 Topsfield Road

 

Lynn

2/23/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., North Shore Community College Main Bldg, 300 Broad Street

 

Methuen

2/15/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 462 Broadway

2/22/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 462 Broadway

 

Newburyport

2/20/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Elks Lodge, 25 Low Street

 

North Andover

2/20/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Brooks School, 1160 Great Pond Road

 

Peabody

2/26/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Peabody YMCA, 259 Lynnfield Street

 

Rowley

2/28/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Rowley Veteran Association, 19 Bradford Street

 

Middlesex County:

Acton

2/23/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., St. Elizabeth’s Church, 89 Arlington Street

 

Arlington

2/25/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Calvary Church, 300 Massachusetts Avenue

 

Belmont

2/21/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Saint Joseph’s, 130 Common Street

 

Billerica

2/19/2017: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Billerica Masons, 11 Concord Road

 

Burlington

2/14/2017: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., American Legion Burlington, 162 Winn St.

2/15/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., The District Burlington, 800 District

2/21/2017: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., American Legion Burlington, 162 Winn St.

2/28/2017: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., American Legion Burlington, 162 Winn St.

 

Cambridge

2/14/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Massachusetts Institute of Technology Student Center, 84 Massachusetts Avenue

2/15/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Massachusetts Institute of Technology Student Center, 84 Massachusetts Avenue

 

2/16/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Massachusetts Institute of Technology Student Center, 84 Massachusetts Avenue

2/16/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 65 Binney Street

2/17/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Massachusetts Institute of Technology Student Center, 84 Massachusetts Avenue

2/21/2017: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Gutman Library, 6 Appian Way

 

Concord

2/25/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Hunt Recreation Center, Hunt Recreation Center, 90 Stow Street

 

Framingham

2/16/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Framingham Plymouth Church, 87 Edgell Road

2/23/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Framingham Plymouth Church, 87 Edgell Road

 

Groton

2/20/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Union Congregational Church, 220 Main Street

 

Lexington

2/15/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 177 Bedford Street

 

Lowell

2/20/2017: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Lowell General Hospital, 295 Varnum Avenue

2/27/2017: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Community Teamwork, Inc., 155 Merrimack Street

 

Marlboro

2/22/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Marlboro Masonic Hall, 8 Newton Street

 

Marlborough

2/22/2017: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Wakefly, 293 Boston Post Rd. West

 

Medford

2/14/2017: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Tufts University Carmichael Hall, 200 Packard Avenue

2/15/2017: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Tufts University Carmichael Hall, 200 Packard Avenue

2/16/2017: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Tufts University Carmichael Hall, 200 Packard Avenue

2/17/2017: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Tufts University Carmichael Hall, 200 Packard Avenue

2/18/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Lawrence Memorial Hospital, 170 Governors Avenue

 

Melrose

2/27/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., VFW, 428 Main Street

 

Newton

2/22/2017: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St

 

Reading

2/22/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Good Samartin Lodge, AF & AM, 110 Haven Street

 

Stow

2/18/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Church of Saint Isidore, 429 Great Road

 

Sudbury

2/23/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Congregation Beth El, 105 Hudson road

 

Tewksbury

2/21/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., VFW Post 8164 Tewksbury, 87 Vernon Street

 

Wakefield

2/24/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Saint Joseph’s Church, 173 Albion Street

2/28/2017: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Sheraton Wakefield, 1 Audobon Road

 

Waltham

2/17/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Boston Properties Waltham Executive Suite, 201 Jones Road, Waltham Weston Corp. Ctr.

 

Wilmington

2/16/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Congregational Church, 220 Middlesex Avenue

 

Winchester

2/24/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Winchester Saving Bank, 661 Main St

 

Woburn

2/18/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Woburn Moose, 4 Federal Street

 

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.