File photo

Special to The Dallas Examiner

The American Red Cross and the National Football League are teaming up this month, during National Blood Donor Month, to urge individuals – especially those who have recovered from COVID-19  – to help tackle the need for blood. Right now, more donors are needed to help hospital patients.

The Red Cross and NFL will offer all those who donate an opportunity to receive a gift. Those who donate blood this month will be automatically entered to win two tickets to next year’s Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles. In addition, those who donate Jan. 1-20 will also be automatically entered to win the Big Game at Home package for an awesome viewing experience safely at home, with a 65-inch television and a $500 gift card to put toward food and fun. Terms and conditions apply. Visit the website for additional infor­mation

Individuals can schedule an appointment to give blood today with the American Red Cross by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or activating the Blood Scheduling Skill for Amazon Alexa.

Like “special teams” units on the field, blood donors have the ability to make a game-changing difference in the lives of patients. Blood is needed for accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease and more.

How those recovered from COVID-19 can help

COVID-19 survivors can help by giving whole blood. Plasma from whole blood donations that test positive for COVID-19 antibodies may be used to help COVID-19 patients. Health emergencies don’t pause for holidays, game days or a pandemic – blood is needed every two seconds in the U.S. to help patients battling injury and illness.

Blood donation safety precautions

To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, individuals who do not feel well or who believe they may be ill with COVID-19 should postpone their donation.

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

 

Dallas

Thursday at 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2945 S. Sunbeck Circle

Friday at 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Foundry Commercial, 8144 Walnut Hill Lane, Ste. 120

Sunday at 11 a.m.-5 p.m., American Red Cross Dallas Chapter, 2055 Kendall Drive

Monday at 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Glen Oaks United Methodist Church, 4606 S Polk St.

Monday at 11 a.m.-5 p.m., American Red Cross Dallas Chapter, 2055 Kendall Drive

Tuesday at 11 a.m.-5 p.m., AT&T Performing Arts Center, 2403 Flora St.

Wednesday at 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood Road

Wednesday at 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Trammell Crow Center, 2010 Flora St.

Jan. 21 at 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sons of Hermann Hall, 3414 Elm St.

Jan. 25 at 9 a.m.-3 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 14740 Meandering Way

Jan. 26 at 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Branch Church, 3035 Valley View Lane

Jan. 27 at 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Crescent Real Estate, 200 Crescent Court

Jan. 27 at 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Trusted ER Uptown, 3607 Oak Lawn Ave., Suite 100

Jan. 27 at 12 p.m.-6 p.m., White Rock Family YMCA, 7112 Gaston Ave.

Jan. 28 at 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Children’s Health StarCenter, 12700 N. Stemmons Freeway

Jan. 28 at 12 p.m.-6 p.m., Oak Cliff Family YMCA, 6701 S. Hampton Road

Jan. 29 at 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Bent Tree Gardens, 17130 Dallas Parkway, Ste. 140

Jan. 31 at 11 a.m.-5 p.m., American Red Cross Dallas Chapter, 2055 Kendall Drive

 

DeSoto

Jan. 23 at 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Village United Methodist Church, 1121 E Wintergreen Road

Jan. 29 at 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Desoto Recreation Center, 211 E. Pleasant Run Road

Jan. 29 at 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Faith Bible Church, 1437 W. Pleasant Run

 

Duncanville

Wednesday at 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Duncanville First Baptist Church, 323 W. Wheatland Road

 

Lancaster

Saturday at 10 a.m.-4 p.m., FUMC Lancaster, 201 S. Dallas Ave.

 

Mesquite

Thursday at 10 a.m.-4 p.m., St Stephen United Methodist Church, 2520 Oates Drive

Jan. 22 at 12:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 300 N. Galloway Ave.

 

Richardson

Monday at 1 p.m.-7 p.m., Drury Plaza Hotel Richardson, 165 Cityline Drive

 

Irving

Jan. 21 at 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Element Hotel North DFW/Irving, 3550 Highway 635

Mollie Finch Belt is the Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of The Dallas Examiner. She attended elementary school in Tuskegee, Ala.; Cambridge, Mass.; and Dallas, Texas. In 1961, she graduated from...

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *