This Saturday is considered “World Blood Donor Day” globally, and there are plenty of opportunities for Mississippians to help their neighbors in need.
Each year, 194 countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day on June 14. The event serves to “raise awareness for the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank donors for their life-saving gifts of blood,” according to American Red Cross.
American Red Cross has several locations scattered across the state including Gulfport, Pascagoula, Hattiesburg, Meridian, Tupelo, Greenville, Columbus, and Flowood outside of Jackson. Several locations will be open to blood donors on Saturday. It’s best to call beforehand to make sure, though.
American Red Cross is offering donors $15 Amazon gift cards and. Chance to win one of two $7,000 gift cards if they give before June 30.
The nonprofit urges people with all blood types to donate but said Type O blood donors are especially needed during the summer months. With school being out, people being off work, and the Atlantic hurricane season in full force, shelves often see shortages during the months of June, July, and August.
“The need for blood is constant. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood,” a release from American Red Cross noted. “Every 15 seconds, somebody needs platelets. One in seven hospital patients will need a blood transfusion for things like surgery, trauma, cancer treatment, or Sickle Cell Anemia.”
Mississippi Blood Services will be extending World Blood Donor Day celebrations well into next week, with blood drives already on the books in various locations across the state.
On Saturday, Grenada and McComb will host the team’s mobile blood drive before it rolls into Winona on Sunday and Indianola, Mendenhall, Port Gibson, Kosciusko, and Ackerman on Monday. On Tuesday, the mobile blood drive will make stops in Philadelphia, Ripley, Wesson, Meadville, and Okolona.
The full schedule for mobile blood drives through Mississippi Blood Services can be found here. Mississippi Blood Services, like American Red Cross, is also offering thank-you gifts and chances at promotional drawings for every donor.
