The Red Cross closely monitors national and local blood supplies to ensure donations are keeping pace with hospital need for blood products in order to meet ongoing and emergency patient care.

�There is a critical need for blood donors now,� said Joyce H. Brendel, chief executive officer for the Carolinas Blood Services Region of the Red Cross. �This summer we have had a particularly difficult time recruiting enough blood donors to meet the requirements of our community�s hospitals and the patients they serve.�

Meeting this need is particularly challenging since the extremely high temperatures are keeping donors inside, most schools are not in session to hold blood drives and we are experiencing a high number of donors who are unable to keep their appointments. In the Carolinas Region, the Red Cross has seen approximately 13% fewer donors than expected.

Donors with all blood types are needed, but especially those with type O negative. Red Cross officials say type O negative donors can make the difference between an adequate blood supply and a shortage. That�s because type O negative blood can be transfused to patients with any blood type, and is most readily given to patients in emergency and trauma situations.

Every day, more than 39,000 pints of blood are needed for patients in the United States. Blood is used for the treatment of cancer patients, people with blood disorders, premature babies, transplant recipients, trauma victims and more. Each whole blood donation can help save up to three lives.

�We urge people to make and keep an appointment to donate blood now,� said Brendel. �Chances are, someone is counting on you right now for their very life.�

The Asheville area operates a blood donation center at the Red Cross offices at 100 Edgewood Road just off Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville.

ASHEVILLE BLOOD CENTER HOURS:

Mondays: 12:30 pm-5:30 pm
Tuesdays: 2:00 pm-7:00 pm
Wednesdays: 7:30 am-12:30 pm
Thursdays: 2:00 pm-7:00 pm
Friday: Hours for Friday vary, please call.
Saturday: Hours for Saturday vary, please call.

UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN THE AREA:

Tuesday, August 2
Hominy Baptist Church Blood Drive
135 Candler School Road, Candler
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Please call 667-4541 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
All presenting donors will receive a coupon for six chocolate-covered fruit redeemable at any Edible Arrangements location!

Thursday, August 4
Black Mountain Community Blood Drive at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church
117 Montreat Road, Black Mountain
1:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Please call Margaret at 669-6729 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
All presenting donors will receive a coupon for six chocolate-covered fruit redeemable at any Edible Arrangements location!

Friday, August 5
Flesher's Fairview Health Care Blood Drive
3016 Cane Creek Road, Fairview
11:00 am to 3:30 pm
Please call Susie Cole at 628-2800 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
All presenting donors will receive a coupon for six chocolate-covered fruit redeemable at any Edible Arrangements location!

Friday, August 5
YMCA Downtown Blood Drive
30 Woodfin Street, Asheville
9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Please call 210-9622 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
All presenting donors will receive a coupon for six chocolate-covered fruit redeemable at any Edible Arrangements location!

Sunday, August 7
C3 Church
168 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville
9:00 am to 1:30 pm
Please call 678-462-0868 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
All presenting donors will receive a coupon for six chocolate-covered fruit redeemable at any Edible Arrangements location!

Tuesday, August 9
Chilis - South Asheville Blood Drive
420 Airport Road, Arden
12:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Please call 684-5067 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
All presenting donors will receive a Red Cross T-shirt, a Chili�s coupon and a coupon for six chocolate- covered fruit redeemable at any Edible Arrangements location!

Wednesday, August 10
Chilis - Tunnel Road Blood Drive
253 Tunnel Road, Asheville
11:00 am to 4:30 pm
Please call 252-4999 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
All presenting donors will receive a Red Cross T-shirt, a Chili�s coupon and a coupon for six chocolate- covered fruit redeemable at any Edible Arrangements location!

Thursday, August 11
Francis Asbury United Methodist Church
725 Asbury Road, Candler
2:00 pm to 6:30 pm
Please call 667-3950 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
All presenting donors will receive a coupon for six chocolate-covered fruit redeemable at any Edible Arrangements location!

Thursday, August 11
University of Phoenix Blood Drive
30 Town Square Boulevard, Asheville
10:00 am to 2:30 pm
Please call 258-3888 extension 414 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
All presenting donors will receive a coupon for six chocolate-covered fruit redeemable at any Edible Arrangements location!

Saturday, August 13
Avery's Creek United Methodist Church Blood Drive
874 Glenn Bridge Road SE, Avery's Creek
9:00 am to 1:30 pm
Please call Emily at 687-2827 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
All presenting donors will receive a Red Cross T-shirt and a coupon for six chocolate-covered fruit redeemable at any Edible Arrangements location!

Tuesday, August 16
Buncombe County Blood Drive at the Training and Development Building
199 College Street, Asheville
10:00 am to 2:30 pm
Please call Rae at 250 - 6516 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
All presenting donors will receive a coupon for six chocolate-covered fruit redeemable at any Edible Arrangements location!

Thursday, August 18
Arden Seventh Day Adventist Church Blood Drive
35 Airport Road, Arden
2:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Please call 684-6700 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
All presenting donors will receive a coupon for six chocolate-covered fruit redeemable at any Edible Arrangements location!

Thursday, August 18
Woodfin YMCA Blood Drive
40 North Merrimon Avenue, Asheville
2:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Please call 505-3990 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
All presenting donors will receive a coupon for six chocolate-covered fruit redeemable at any Edible Arrangements location!

Friday, August 19
Comfort Suites Blood Drive
Brevard Road, Asheville
9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Please call 418-1173 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
All presenting donors will receive a coupon for six chocolate-covered fruit redeemable at any Edible Arrangements location!

Monday, August 22
Asheville Chevrolet Blood Drive
205 Smoky Park Highway, Asheville
2:30 pm to 7:00 pm
All presenting donors will receive a coupon for six chocolate-covered fruit redeemable at any Edible Arrangements location!

Monday, August 29
Mount Carmel Baptist Church Blood Drive
201 Mount Carmel Road, Asheville
2:00 pm to 6:30 pm
Please call Kristi at 712-0217 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
All presenting donors will receive a coupon for six chocolate-covered fruit redeemable at any Edible Arrangements location!

For a complete list of Western North Carolina blood drives, please visit www.redcrosswnc.org.

To schedule an appointment to donate please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org for more information. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.

(Image provided by The American Red Cross.)

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