Blood donors urged to help restock after severe winter storms hit area


Though spring has officially arrived, the American Red Cross blood supply is still recovering from severe winter storms in March. Donors of all blood types are urged to roll up a sleeve and help save lives.
Winter weather in parts of the country forced more than 270 blood drives to cancel, resulting in over 9,500 uncollected blood and platelet donations in the first two weeks of March.
In Minnesota, 21 blood drives were canceled or closed early due to winter weather in March, causing 525 donations to go uncollected.
No matter the weather, the need for blood to help cancer patients, those undergoing surgeries, trauma patients and others remains..
Volunteer blood donors from across the country are needed to help ensure lifesaving blood products are available for patients this spring.
Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Upcoming blood donation opportunities March 20 to April 15:
•Ghent: 1-6 p.m., Tuesday, March 27 at KB’s Bar and Grill.
•Minneota: 12:30 to 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 4 at the Minneota High School.