Red Cross issues urgent call for blood, platelet donors
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- The American Red Cross is sending out an urgent plea for blood and platelet donations.
Over the last few months, the organization received about 80,000 fewer donations than expected and could face an emergency shortage in the coming weeks.
The summer is always a challenging time of year for the Red Cross because many people go on vacation.
"We never want there to be an emergency situation, where someone has to have blood and the blood is not there," said Red Cross spokeswoman Lu Esposito.
A number of blood drives are taking place this weekend in Wake, Durham, Orange and surrounding counties.
They're taking all blood types but eligible donors with types O, B, and A-negative blood are especially needed.
Esposito says organizers hope potential donors will tell friends and spread the word by using social media.
"#ChooseYourDay. Encourage your friends on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to give blood. If they've never given blood before, they should come out and experience what it feels like," she said.
If you'd like to help, here are some upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Durham County
Durham
July 28 from 2 - 6:30 p.m. at Chick-fil-A Roxboro Road, 3912 N Roxboro St.
July 29 from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Imperial Center Winchester, 4309 Emperor Blvd. Suite 110
Aug. 6 from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Veterans Admin Medical Center, 508 Fulton St.
Cumberland County
Fayetteville
August 14 from 12:30 - 5 p.m. at Highlands Chapter (807 Carol St.)
Granville County
Butner
July 29 from 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Central Regional Hospital, 300 Veasey Road
Harnett County
Dunn
Aug. 5 from 2:30 - 7 p.m. at Shriners Club, 211 N. Clinton Ave.
Johnston County
Benson
Aug. 3 from noon - 4:30 p.m. at Lighthouse Baptist Church, 1140 B. H. Parrish Road
Clayton
July 27 from 12:30 - 5 p.m. at Walmart Supercenter 5046, 805 Town Center Blvd.
July 30 from 2 - 6:30 p.m. at Quintessential Wellness, 620 N.C. Highway 42 West
Smithfield
Aug. 5 from 3 - 7:30 p.m. at Johnston County Correctional Institution, 2465 U.S. 70 West
Lee County
Sanford
Aug. 7 from 3:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Sanford Church of God, 2105 Pathway Drive
Aug. 8 from 1:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. Belk 0008, 1065 Spring Lane
Moore County
Aberdeen
Aug. 1 from 2:30 - 7 p.m. at Walmart 1097, 250 Turner St.
Southern Pines
Aug. 3 from 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Buffalo Wild Wings, 1640 US Highway 1
Aug. 8 from 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. St. Joseph of the Pines -Health Center, 103 Gossman Drive
Orange County
Chapel Hill
July 29 from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Grace Church, 200 Sage Road
Aug. 10 from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Newman Center, 216 Pittsboro St.
Hillsborough
Aug. 3 from noon - 4 p.m.: New Sharon United Methodist Church, 1601 New Sharon Church Road
Aug. 10 from 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Eno Presbyterian, 5409 Efland Cedar Grove Road
Person County
Hurdle Mills
Aug. 10 from noon - 4:30 p.m. Walnut Grove United Methodist Church, 7215 Walnut Grove Church Road
Vance County
Henderson
Aug. 6 from noon - 4:30 p.m. MR Williams, 235 Raleigh Road
Wake County
Cary
Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. WakeMed Cary, 1900 Kildaire Farm Road
Aug. 10 from 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. Amberly Community Club House, 1075 Residents Club Drive
Raleigh
July 27 from noon - 4:30 p.m. at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 8304 Leesville Road
July 28 from 2 - 6:30 p.m. at Whole Foods Raleigh Six Forks Road, 8710 Six Forks Road
July 29 from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at AECOM Raleigh Corporate Center, 701 Corporate Center Drive
July 30 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at NC Department of Revenue, 501 N. Wilmington St.
July 30 from 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at Haywood Gym - NC Dept Health and Human Services, 805 Ruggles St. Haywood Gym
July 30 from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at NCDOT New Hope Center, 4101 Capital Blvd.
Aug. 3 from 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at St Michael's Episcopal Church, 1520 Canterbury Road
Aug. 9 from noon - 4:30 p.m. Moxie Pest Control, 2401 Brentwood Road Suite 102
Wake Forest
July 27 from 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at Richland Creek Community Church, 3229 Burlington Mills Road
July 28 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at American Legion Post 187, 225 E. Holding Ave.
Aug. 4 from 3 - 7:30 p.m. at Wake Forest Drug, 3113 Rogers Road
Wayne County
Dudley
July 30 from noon - 4:30 p.m. at Georgia Pacific, 139 Brewington Drive
Eureka
July 29 from 2:30 - 7 p.m. at Eureka United Methodist Church, 128 N. Church St.
Goldsboro
July 31 from 1 - 5:30 p.m. at Sam's Club 6443, 2811 N. Park Drive Aug. 6 from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Wayne County Board of Elections, 209 S William St.
Aug. 8 from 7:30 a.m. - noon: Wayne Memorial Hospital, 2700 Wayne Memorial Drive
Aug. 8 from noon - 4:30 p.m. Wayne Memorial Hospital, 2700 Wayne Memorial Drive
