United Way of Northwest Indiana (UWNWI) President and CEO Adam O’Doherty announced his organization will team up with the American Red Cross-Northwest Chapter to collect at least fifty units of blood, which is enough to help almost 150 people.
The blood drive will take place at the United Way office, 951 Eastport Center Dr., Valparaiso, on Jul. 18th, beginning at 9 a.m.
O’Doherty said the critical need for blood in Northwest Indiana calls for extra measures and big goals. According to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, just one unit of blood can be used to help three people.
“It’s really staggering how much blood we need to collect to make sure we’re protecting our friends and neighbors across Lake and Porter Counties,” he said. “We fully believe we can collect more units of blood and help more people than ever before.”
According to the American Red Cross:
• The American Red Cross must collect enough blood everyday to meet the needs of accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients and people receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease.
• Someone in the U.S. needs blood or platelets every two seconds.
• Everyday, the American Red Cross needs to collect nearly 12,500 blood donations and 3,000 platelet donations to meet patients’ needs across the country.
As an added incentive, donors will receive an exclusive Shark Week t-shirt, while supplies last.
For more information, contact Michael Gonzalez at (219)617-0796 or at
mikeg@steelshoresmedia.com.