The Red Cross has in interesting twist for Halloween — giving blood. Presenting blood donors will be entered into a drawing for a pair of roundtrip Delta Air Lines tickets.
“We need your blood more than ever, as our supply remains at critically low levels,” said Joyce Brendel, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross Carolinas Blood Services Region. Donors can roll up their sleeves at one of these upcoming Red Cross blood drives:
• Friday, Oct. 28 2:30-7 p.m., St. James Lutheran, 131 W. Main St., Rockwell. Call Karen Russell at 704-642-2859 for more info or to schedule an appointment.
• Friday, Oct. 28 noon-4 p.m., Saleeby-Fisher East Rowan YMCA, 790 Crescent Road, Rockwell. Call Sarah Zander or Kathy Rummage at 704-279-1742 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
• Sunday, Oct. 30, 1-5:30 p.m., Concordia Lutheran, 185 Concordia Church Road, China Grove. Call Shelby Karriker at 704-857-7051 for more info or to schedule an appointment
The Red Cross Carolinas Blood Services Region provides blood to 103 hospitals and must have 1,600 people give blood and platelets each weekday to meet patient needs. Accident victims as well as patients with cancer, sickle cell disease, blood disorders and other illnesses receive lifesaving transfusions every day. There is no substitute for blood and volunteer donors are the only source.
Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Most healthy people age 17 and older, or 16 with parental consent, who weigh at least 110 pounds, are eligible to donate blood. Donors who are 18 and younger must also meet specific height and weight requirements.
Blood Drive schedule subject to change. Please call the office at 704-633-3854 for updated information.