NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (Nov. 26, 2018) — The American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood and platelet donors to give now to ensure blood is available for medical treatments and emergencies during the holiday season.

Blood and platelet donations often decline during the holidays. Regular donors are busy with holiday activities, and travel and severe winter weather may cause blood drive cancellations. Yet donations remain critical for patients like 4-year-old Wyatt Monacelli who is in the midst of intense chemotherapy treatments for leukemia. He has received a number of transfusions since his diagnosis in June and will likely need more.

“We are fortunate to have had so many donors give the gift of life to our child so far throughout the course of his treatment, and even more so, we are lucky to have had a supply of blood available for him when he needed it,” said Julianna Monacelli, Wyatt’s mother.

Donors are urged to give now to ensure that families like Wyatt’s don’t have to worry about the availability of blood this winter. In thanks for helping meet the urgent need around the holidays, all those who come to donate blood or platelets now through Dec. 19, 2018, will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. (Restrictions apply; see amazon.com/gc-legal. More information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.)

Make an appointment to donate blood or platelets by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Another way to help keep the blood supply strong is to host a Red Cross blood drive this winter. To learn more about hosting a blood drive and to sign up, visit RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Nov. 26-Dec. 19

American Red Cross Blood Donation Center

1111 South Cottonwood St.
North Platte, NE 69101

Other donation opportunities

Chase

Wauneta
12/18/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Wauneta Community Building, 325 North Tecumseh
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Deuel

Chappell
11/26/2018: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Chappell Fire Hall, 1650 2nd Street
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Frontier

Curtis
12/19/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Curtis Community Bulding, 201 Garlick Avenue

Eustis
11/27/2018: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Eustis-Farnam Public School, 504 N. Ingall Street

Maywood
12/6/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Hall, 202 N. Commercial Street
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Furnas

Arapahoe
12/12/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Ella Missing Community Building, 411 6th Street

Cambridge
11/29/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Building, 722 Patterson St
12/4/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Cambridge Hospital, West Hwy 6 & 34
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Hayes

Hayes Center
12/18/2018: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Hayes Center High School, 500 Troth Street
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Hitchcock

Culbertson
12/3/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Hitchcock County Elementary School, 712 Arizona Street
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Keith

Ogallala
12/19/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Petrified Wood Gallery, 418 East 1st Street

Paxton
12/7/2018: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Community Building, 205 N. Oak Street
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Lincoln

Hershey
12/3/2018: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Hershey High School, 301 South Lincoln

North Platte
11/26/2018: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., NPCC South Campus, 601 West State Farm Rd
12/4/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Eagles Club, 620 N Chestnut
12/6/2018: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Valley Christian Church, 2001 W. State Farm Road
12/13/2018: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Messiah Lutheran Church, 2700 West A Street
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Logan

Stapleton
11/27/2018: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Village Hall, 236 Main Street
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Red Willow

Indianola
12/7/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Indianola VFW Community Hall, 408 F Street

Mc Cook
12/4/2018: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Ed Thomas YMCA of McCook, 901 West E St

How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) 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 in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), 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.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.