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The American Red Cross is asking donors to give something that means something this holiday season. Your blood donation can help a patient get home for the holidays. The Red Cross encourages donors to make an appointment, at https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive, and use sponsor code NewGlarus. This time of year, blood drives across the country are often affected by seasonal illness and winter weather. If you’re feeling healthy and well, your blood donation is needed NOW to help meet the needs of hospital patients this holiday season. Eligible donors with types O, B negative or A negative blood are encouraged to make a Power Red donation at this blood drive. Power Red donors give a concentrated dose of red blood cells during a single donation, allowing them to maximize their impact. During this type of donation, red blood cells are separated from other blood components, and the plasma and platelets are safely and comfortably returned to the donor.

The New Glarus Community Blood Drive will be held on Friday, December 17, 2021, from 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., and is being dedicated to former New Glarus resident, Ron White. Ron recently passed away following a 10-year battle with a blood disease. Those last 10 years were made possible by donors just like you. All blood donations are now tested for COVID-19 antibodies. Please see https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/covid-19-antibody-testing.html for more details. In most cases, there’s no blood donation deferral if you’ve received a COVID-19 vaccine and you’re symptom free and feeling well when you come to give. All donors will receive an exclusive long-sleeved Red Cross t-shirt (while supplies last).

The need for blood is constant and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime.

Thank you for supporting the American Red Cross blood program!

An appointment is strongly recommended. To do so, please download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit http://www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code NewGlarus, or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire found at http://www.redcrossblood.org/rapidpass is encouraged to help speed up the donation process. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification, are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.