Help save lives: Red Cross urges blood, platelet donations during summer months

MILWAUKEE -- The American Red Cross urges blood and platelet donors to choose their day to give and help ensure blood is available for patients all summer long during its annual summer awareness campaign, sponsored by Suburban Propane.

To encourage donations around the Memorial Day holiday, those who come to give blood or platelets from May 27-31 will receive a Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last, according to a press release.

The Red Cross relies on volunteer donors for the 14,000 blood donations needed every day to support patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide. However, during the summer months of June, July and August, about two fewer donors schedule an appointment to give blood at each Red Cross blood drive than what patients need.

For more information and to make an appointment to donate, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors of all blood types are needed.

Suburban Propane supports the Red Cross summer campaign
As official national sponsor of the summer campaign, which begins Memorial Day weekend and runs through Labor Day weekend, Suburban Propane will help promote the need for blood and platelet donations and will encourage its employees and customers to give.

“Suburban Propane is proud to partner with the Red Cross and help raise awareness of the ongoing need for blood and platelets – especially during the crucial summer months,” said Suburban Propane’s Chief Development Officer Mark Wienberg. “By expanding our partnership with the Red Cross this year, we can continue to support the life-changing work of the Red Cross and make an even bigger difference in communities across the country.”

Suburban Propane employees will also volunteer at Red Cross blood drives nationwide in one of the largest national volunteer commitments to the Red Cross Blood Services from a corporate partner. Additionally, this year Suburban Propane is expanding its partnership with the Red Cross to include participation in the Home Fire Campaign in some markets, as well as support for disaster relief efforts and Service to the Armed Forces.

The Red Cross has touched the lives of many Suburban Propane employees including Debbie Traub. In May 2014, her 74-year-old father fell from a ladder while power washing his home and suffered life-threatening injuries. He spent 20 days in the intensive care unit and received many blood transfusions. Traub said that she now knows the importance of giving blood and makes a point to donate in honor of her father at the Suburban Propane headquarter blood drives. Her story is just one of many reasons Suburban Propane continues to advocate for blood and platelet donations to the Red Cross.

“The Red Cross has partnered with Suburban Propane since 2012, and last year’s ‘100 Days of Summer. 100 Days of Hope.’ campaign marked our first nationwide, summerlong partnership,” said Morrissey. “The Red Cross depends on corporate partners like Suburban Propane to help ensure blood and platelets are available for patients in need of lifesaving transfusions and to help our communities prepare for and respond to disasters large and small.”

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Dodge

Beaver Dam
5/23/2016: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 311 W Mackie St

Waupun
5/23/2016: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Waupun High School, 801 E Lincoln
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Milwaukee

Greenfield
5/23/2016: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Southwest YMCA, 11311 W Howard Ave

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Waukesha

Brookfield
5/23/2016: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Brookfield Central High School, 16900 Gebhardt Rd
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Dodge

Beaver Dam
5/24/2016: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 311 W Mackie St
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Fond du Lac

Campbellsport
5/24/2016: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Campbellsport Public Library, 220 N Helena St

Fond du Lac
5/24/2016: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion, 500 Fond du Lac Ave
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Milwaukee

Oak Creek
5/24/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Oak Creek East Middle School, 9330 S Shepard Ave
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Washington

Jackson
5/24/2016: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Jackson Community Center, N165 W20330 Hickory Lane
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Waukesha

Pewaukee
5/24/2016: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
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Dodge

Fox Lake
5/25/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., American Legion Post 521, 220 W State St
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Milwaukee

West Allis
5/25/2016: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Nathan Hale High School, 11601 W Lincoln Ave
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Waukesha

New Berlin
5/26/2016: 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Ronald Reagan Elementary School, 4225 S Calhoun Rd

Pewaukee
5/26/2016: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
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Dodge

Beaver Dam
5/27/2016: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Beaver Dam High School, 500 Gould St
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Jefferson

Lake Mills
5/27/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., City Hall, 200 Water St
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Sheboygan

Sheboygan
5/27/2016: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., St. Nicholas Hospital, 3100 Superior Ave
5/27/2016: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

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Washington

Kewaskum
5/27/2016: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Kewaskum Middle School, 1676 Reigle Dr
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Milwaukee

Milwaukee
5/31/2016: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Loving Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3909 W Clinton Ave
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Sheboygan

Sheboygan
5/31/2016: 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Lincoln Erdman Elementary, 4815 County Road J
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Waukesha

Pewaukee
5/31/2016: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
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Milwaukee

Milwaukee
6/1/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Milwaukee Academy of Science, 2000 W Kilbourn
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Walworth

Elkhorn
6/1/2016: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Alternative High School, 400 County Rd H
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Jefferson

Jefferson
6/2/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Masonic Center, 617 Masonic Blvd
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Waukesha

New Berlin
6/2/2016: 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., New Berlin Public Library, 15105 Library Ln

Pewaukee
6/2/2016: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
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Sheboygan

Sheboygan
6/3/2016: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
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Waukesha

Pewaukee
6/3/2016: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., American Red Cross Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Road
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Dodge

Beaver Dam
6/6/2016: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Prairie View Elementary School, 510 N. Crystal Lake Road
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Washington

Kewaskum
6/6/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Peace United Church of Christ, 343 1st St.
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Milwaukee

Wauwatosa
6/7/2016: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., YMCA W Suburban Branch, 2420 N 124th St

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Ozaukee

Fredonia
6/7/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Fredonia Government Center, 242 Fredonia Ave
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Waukesha

Pewaukee
6/7/2016: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
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Walworth

Williams Bay
6/8/2016: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Williams Bay Care Center, 146 Clover Street
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Milwaukee

Greendale
6/9/2016: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Martin Luther High School, 5201 S 76th St
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Waukesha

Pewaukee
6/9/2016: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd
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Milwaukee

Milwaukee
6/10/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct.
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Sheboygan

Sheboygan
6/10/2016: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
How to donate blood

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 (16 with parental consent in some states), 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.