Red Cross in need of your blood donations as it faces critical shortage

PITTSBURGH — The American Red Cross, which provides 40% of the U.S. blood supply, is facing a critical shortage.

The agency says historically low supply levels can be attributed to busy holiday schedules, leading to a decrease in donations.

“Folks are busy doing a lot of their holiday errands, seeing family or friends as safely as they can, and it’s just not top of mind right now,” according to Regional Communications Director Lisa Landis.

To combat the shortage, the Red Cross is planning more than two dozen donation events across western Pennsylvania later this month.

The agency will set up shop on Dec. 17 in Pittsburgh and go from there to locations in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Westmoreland counties, and more, through Jan. 2.

Donors will receive a free T-shirt.

“It’s every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood, so it really does make a difference,” said Landis. “Every unit of blood can save up to three lives.”

If blood supply levels do not pick up soon, the result could be dire.

“If that product is not on the shelf, when moments matter, it could be the difference between somebody receiving a lifesaving transfusion, or not,” said Landis.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Dec. 17-Jan. 2:

Allegheny

Allison Park

12/17/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Stoneridge Covenant Church, 811 Dressel Road

Bethel Park

12/23/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Municipal Council of Bethel Park, 5100 West Library Avenue

12/23/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Spencer Family YMCA, 305 Church Road

Coraopolis

12/27/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh Airport, 9600 University Boulevard

Pittsburgh

12/17/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Red Cross Pittsburgh Chapter, 2801 Liberty Avenue

12/28/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Sampson Family YMCA, 2200 Golden Mile Highway

12/30/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., American Red Cross Pittsburgh Chapter, 2801 Liberty Avenue

Armstrong

Elderton

12/17/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Elderton Volunteer Fire Hall, 305  Williams Street

Ford Cliff

12/27/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Ford Cliff Fire Company, 609 Neale Ave.

Yatesboro

12/29/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Mary Mother of God Church, 109 2nd Street, P.O. Box 327

Beaver

Beaver

12/30/2021: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., American Red Cross, 133 Friendship Circle

Beaver Falls

12/20/2021: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Chippewa Township Fire Department, 2568 Darlington Road

Georgetown

12/29/2021: 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Hookstown American Legion Post 952, 1265 State Rt. 168

Monaca

12/27/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Monaca United Methodist Church, 813 Indiana Ave.

Butler

Butler

12/20/2021: 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., American Legion Post 778, 150 Legion Memorial Lane

12/28/2021: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 201 West Jefferson Street

Mars

12/22/2021: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., LifePointe Alliance Church, 997 Rte 228

Fayette

Brownsville

12/21/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Peter’s Church Parish Center, 118 Church St

Connellsville

12/17/2021: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Highlands Hospital, 401 East Murphy Avenue

12/18/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Pleasant Valley Masonic Lodge, Route 982, 530 Pleasant Valley Road

Ohiopyle

12/28/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Ohiopyle Stewart Community Center, 15 Sherman St.

Uniontown

12/20/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Amercan Legion Lafayette Post 51, 508 East Main St

Greene

Carmichaels

12/22/2021: 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., American Legion Post 400, 300 W. Greene Street

Indiana

Blairsville

12/23/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Hampton Inn & Suites, 62 Pine Ridge Road

Homer City

12/29/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Church of the Nazarene, 3513 US 119 HWY South

Indiana

12/27/2021: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 398 Church Street

12/30/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Indiana Mall, 2334 Oakland Avenue

Penn Run

12/28/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Cherryhill Twsp Volunteer Fire Dept., 1442 N Harmony Rd

Lawrence

New Wilmington

12/21/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., New Wilmington Presbyterian Church, 229 S. Market Street

Westmoreland

Greensburg

12/22/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Greensburg Blood Donation Center, 351 Harvey Avenue

12/29/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Greensburg Blood Donation Center, 351 Harvey Avenue

Latrobe

12/27/2021: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., American Legion Post 515, 1811 Ligonier St

Vandergrift

12/20/2021: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., St. Paul’s Highfield Lutheran Church, 1595 Dime Road, Route 66

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