Community Corner

Red Cross Issues Emergency Call for Blood Donations

Fewer than anticipated donors in June means a shortage in available blood stores.

Are you at least 17 years old?

Do you weigh 110 pounds or more?

Healthy?

Find out what's happening in Winchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The American Red Cross needs your help.

The Red Cross has issued an emergency request for blood donations, stating in a press release that its "blood supply has reached emergency levels with 50,000 fewer donations than expected in June." The blood bank is stocked with about half the available blood it held this time last year.

Find out what's happening in Winchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Red Cross officials speculate that an earlier-than-normal spring season could have led to fewer than typical blood donations as regular donors transitioned into summer activities early and failed to schedule their blood and platelet donations.

Now, need exists for all blood types, but particularly for O Positive, O Negative, A Negative and B Negative blood.

The Red Cross hopes to collect 6,500 units of blood in the Massachusetts region throughout the next two weeks.

A few upcoming blood drives in the Winchester area include:

: 109 Skillings Rd., Winchester
June 28; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

: 41 Highland Ave., Winchester
Aug. 1; 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

: 41 Wyman St., Woburn
June 30; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

: 194 Lexington St., Woburn
July 7; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

VFW Post 1012: 114 Mystic Ave., Medford
July 9; 2 to 7 p.m.

: 790 Salem St., Malden
July 9; 2 to 7 p.m.

: 15 Winslow St., Arlington
July 11; 2 to 7 p.m.

: 177 Bedford St., Lexington
July 11; 2 to 7:30 p.m.

: 10 Pleasant St., Lexington
July 12; Noon to 5 p.m.

Americal Civic Center467 Main St., Wakefield
July 20; 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

A full list of blood drives is available on the Red Cross blood donation website.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here