The holiday season is a time for people to reflect on what makes them grateful. Family, friends and good health come to mind for many.
Countless patients like Ethan Hoffart, however, strive for good health during the holidays, oftentimes in a hospital room, away from family and friends. Blood donations can bring them hope.
When Ethan was 10 years old, he spent most of the holiday season being treated for aplastic anemia, a disease in which the body’s bone marrow doesn’t make enough new blood cells. For four months Ethan was dependent on blood transfusions every seven days and platelet transfusions every three days.
“I probably wouldn’t even be here if no one gave blood,” he said. “The transfusions pretty much saved me.”
Thanks in part to volunteer donors, Ethan’s disease is under control, and he will be at home with his family for the holidays this year.
All blood types are needed, especially O negative, A negative and
B negative. Appointments to donate with the American Red Cross and bring hope to patients in need can be made at redcrossblood.org or 1-800-RED CROSS.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Cleburne County
Nov. 26 from 12-4 p.m. at Seven Springs Health & Rehabilitation, 1040 Weddingford Road in Heber Springs, Ark.
Conway County
Nov. 25 from 1-5 p.m. at Wal-Mart, 1621 N. Business Highway 9 in Morrilton, Ark.
Faulkner County
Nov. 16 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Simon Park, Oak and Front Street in Conway, Ark.
Nov. 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at University of Central Arkansas Student Center, 201 S. Donaghey in Conway, Ark.
Nov. 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at University of Central Arkansas Student Center, 201 S. Donaghey in Conway, Ark.
Nov. 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at University of Central Arkansas Student Center, 201 S. Donaghey in Conway, Ark.
Nov. 25 from 3-7 p.m. at Walgreens, 850 Oak St. in Conway, Ark.
Nov. 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hurley Chiropractic & Wellness Center, 813 Oak St. in Conway, Ark. (complimentary T-shirt for presenting donors, while supplies last)
Jefferson County
Nov. 24 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church Activity Center, 8203 Dollarway Road in White Hall, Ark.
Nov. 25 from 1-5 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1610 W. 42nd St. in Pine Bluff, Ark.
Lonoke County
Nov. 19 from 3-7 p.m. at Magness Creek Elementary, 16150 Highway 5 in Cabot, Ark.
Nov. 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Veterans Park Community Center, 508 N. Lincoln in Cabot, Ark. (complimentary T-shirt for presenting donors, while supplies last)
Monroe County
Nov. 22 from 3-8 p.m. at American Legion Arthur McBride Post 80, 120 Main St. in Clarendon, Ark.
Ouachita County
Nov. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Cullendale First Baptist Church, 1850 Cash Road in Camden, Ark.
Nov. 18 from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Camden Fairview High School, 1750 Cash Road SW in Camden, Ark.
Perry County
Nov. 20 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Perryville High School, 325 Houston Ave. in Perryville, Ark.
Phillips County
Nov. 19 from 1-6 p.m. at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas, 1000 Campus in West Helena, Ark.
Pike County
Nov. 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Murfreesboro High School, 605 Third Ave. in Murfreesboro, Ark.
Pope County
Nov. 16 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
Nov. 21 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
Nov. 22 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
Nov. 23 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
Nov. 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
Nov. 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark. (complimentary T-shirt for presenting donors, while supplies last)
Nov. 29 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark. (complimentary T-shirt for presenting donors, while supplies last)
Nov. 30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark. (complimentary T-shirt for presenting donors, while supplies last)
Prairie County
Nov. 25 from 2-6 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 295 N. Hazen Ave. in Hazen, Ark.
Nov. 25 from 2:30-6:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 401 Erwin St. in Des Arc, Ark.
Pulaski County
Nov. 16 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Sylvan Hills High School, 484 Bear Paw Road in Sherwood, Ark.
Nov. 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Sylvan Hills High School, 484 Bear Paw Road in Sherwood, Ark.
Nov. 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, 5301 Northshore Drive in North Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Red Cross, 4548 JFK Blvd. in North Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Arkansas Revenue Department Ragland Building, 1817 W. Seventh St. in Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at University of Arkansas, 2801 S. University Ave. in Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 22 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at University of Arkansas, 2801 S. University Ave. in Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 22 from 12-5 p.m. at American Red Cross, 4548 JFK Blvd. in North Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School, 251 N. First St. in Jacksonville, Ark.
Nov. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Joe T. Robinson High School, 21501 Highway 10 in Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at McClellan High School, 9417 Geyer Springs Road in Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Red Cross, 4548 JFK Blvd. in North Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark. (complimentary T-shirt for presenting donors, while supplies last)
Nov. 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Wal-Mart, 2000 John Harden Drive in Jacksonville, Ark. (complimentary T-shirt for presenting donors, while supplies last)
Nov. 29 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark. (complimentary T-shirt for presenting donors, while supplies last)
Nov. 29 from 12-5 p.m. at American Red Cross, 4548 JFK Blvd. in North Little Rock, Ark. (complimentary T-shirt for presenting donors, while supplies last)
Nov. 30 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark. (complimentary T-shirt for presenting donors, while supplies last)
Dec. 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Holy Souls Catholic Church, 1003 N. Tyler in Little Rock, Ark. (complimentary T-shirt for presenting donors, while supplies last)
Dec. 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at American Red Cross, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark. (complimentary T-shirt for presenting donors, while supplies last)
Saline County
Nov. 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Wal-Mart, 17309 Interstate 30 West in Benton, Ark. (complimentary T-shirt for presenting donors, while supplies last)
Van Buren County
Nov. 16 from 12-4 p.m. at Wal-Mart, 1956 Highway 65 South in Clinton, Ark.
White County
Nov. 19 from 1-6 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1120 S. Main St. in Searcy, Ark.
Nov. 22 from 12-5 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1120 S. Main St. in Searcy, Ark.
Nov. 26 from 1-6 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1120 S. Main St. in Searcy, Ark.
Nov. 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Searcy High School, 301 N. Ella in Searcy, Ark.
Nov. 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Searcy High School, 301 N. Ella in Searcy, Ark.
Nov. 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Searcy Fire Department, 501 W. Beebe-Capps in Searcy, Ark. (complimentary T-shirt for presenting donors, while supplies last)
Nov. 29 from 1-5 p.m. at First Security Bank, 1801 W. DeWitt Henry Drive in Beebe, Ark. (complimentary T-shirt for presenting donors, while supplies last)
Nov. 29 from 12-5 p.m. at American Red Cross, 1120 S. Main St. in Searcy, Ark. (complimentary T-shirt for presenting donors, while supplies last)
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.
