January is National Blood Donor Month, and the American Red Cross invites those who are eligible to join the millions of blood donors across the country in helping ensure a stable blood supply for patients in need.
People have many different reasons for donating blood. Jill Long’s is her late husband, Bill, who died from esophageal cancer. After his stage 4 diagnosis, he was able to survive for three more years, thanks in part to the blood transfusions he received. Long said she believes “the gift of time” is what blood donors really give.
“It took me only a few minutes to donate my blood, while he spent all day receiving someone else’s — just so that he could keep fighting to stay alive,” she said.
They were both grateful for that opportunity to fight, Long said. Now, as a blood donor, she said she feels like she can help other families in similar situations “battle to stay together as long as possible.”
January can be a difficult month to collect donations due to inclement weather and seasonal illnesses. The Red Cross encourages eligible donors to make an appointment to give during National Blood Donor Month by visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Clark County
Jan. 11 from 1:30-5:30 p.m. at Mirage Restaurant, 104 Malvern Road in Caddo Valley, Ark.
Jan. 15 from 3-8 p.m. at Fire Department Amity, 121 E. Thompson St. in Amity, Ark.
Conway County
Jan. 13 from 3-7 p.m. at Conway County Community Center, 1307 N. Business Highway 9 in Morrilton, Ark.
Dallas County
Jan. 2 from 1:30-5:30 p.m. at Wal-Mart, 1123 Highway 79 in Fordyce, Ark.
Faulkner County
Jan. 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hurley Chiropractic & Wellness Center, 813 Oak St. in Conway, Ark.
Jan. 9 from 4-8 p.m. at Conway Regional Health & Fitness Center, 700 Salem Road in Conway, Ark.
Jan. 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Harps Foods, 1048 Main St. in Vilonia, Ark.
Jan. 13 from 3-7 p.m. at Walgreens, 850 Oak St. in Conway, Ark.
Garland County
Jan. 14 from 7:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Village United Methodist Church, 200 Carmona Road in Hot Springs Village, Ark.
Grant County
Jan. 5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at National Guard Armory Sheridan, 91 Grant 74 County Road in Sheridan, Ark.
Jefferson County
Jan. 9 from 1-4 p.m. at Jefferson Area Technical Career Center, 221 S. Beech St. in Pine Bluff, Ark.
Jan. 9 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at Jefferson Area Technical Career Center, 221 S. Beech St. in Pine Bluff, Ark.
Jan. 12 from 1-5 p.m. at Good Fairth Carr United Methodist Church, 3703 Ryburn Road in Pine Bluff, Ark.
Jan. 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Arkansas Department of Corrections, 2403 E. Harding in Pine Bluff, Ark.
Lincoln County
Jan. 14 from 1:30-6:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 200 W. Wiley in Star City, Ark.
Monroe County
Jan. 9 from 1-6 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 409 W. Ash St. in Brinkley, Ark.
Phillips County
Jan. 14 from 1-6 p.m. at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas, 1000 Campus in West Helena, Ark.
Pope County
Jan. 2 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
Jan. 3 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
Jan. 4 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
Jan. 7 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
Jan. 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
Jan. 9 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
Jan. 10 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
Jan. 11 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
Jan. 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
Jan. 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
Pulaski County
Jan. 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 3 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Salvation Army, 1505 W. 18th St. in North Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Arvest Mortgage, 801 John Barrow Road in Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 3 from 12-4 p.m. at Euronet Worldwide, 17300 Chenal Parkway in Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 3 from 12-5 p.m. at American Red Cross, 4548 JFK Blvd. in North Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 4 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ar
k.
Jan. 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 6 from 1-6:30 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Arkansas State Highway & Transportation, 10324 Interstate 30 in Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at FIS Global, 4001 Rodney Parham Road in Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 10 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Affairs Hospital, 4300 W. Seventh St. in Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 11 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, 4823 Woodlawn Ave. in Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Farm Bureau, 10720 Kanis Road in Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Jan. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Saline County
Jan. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Salvation Army, 129 N. Main in Benton, Ark.
Jan. 12 from 1:30-5:30 p.m. at Wal-Mart, 17309 Interstate 30 West in Benton, Ark.
Van Buren County
Jan. 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wal-Mart, 1956 Highway 65 South in Clinton, Ark.
Jan. 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Indian Rock Village, 265 Dave Creek Parkway in Fairfield Bay
, Ark.
White County
Jan. 3 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Oakdale Nursing & Rehab, 101 Cynthia Drive in Judsonia, Ark.
Jan. 3 from 12-5 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1120 S. Main St. in Searcy, Ark.
Jan. 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pangburn High School, 1100 Short St. in Pangburn, Ark.
How to donate blood
Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
