In celebration of World Blood Donor Day on June 14, the American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region announces plans for a new Blood Donation Center in Blaine, MN. Scheduled to open in late 2024, this center will provide blood donors with expanded opportunities and allow the Red Cross to collect nearly 2,000 units of platelets and over 3,100 units of red blood cells in its first year of operation.
Meeting Critical Needs The Red Cross must collect enough blood daily to meet the needs of accident victims, surgery patients, and those undergoing treatment for cancer and other diseases. "The need for blood is constant," says Bob Bruce, Red Cross Regional Donor Services Executive. "Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. As new cancer cases rise — by an estimated 36% by 2040 — so will the demand for blood products, including platelets. Remarkably, about 25% of the U.S. blood supply goes to patients undergoing cancer treatment,”
To meet the growing and changing needs for blood products, the Red Cross is adapting by opening a new blood donation center in Blaine. "More community donation sites are vital for attracting and retaining blood donors of all ages, as well as staff, and volunteers," says Brice Johnson, CEO of the Minnesota and Dakotas Region.
This strategically located facility, at 12555 Ulysses Street NE, in Blaine, will provide a more consistent and convenient location for donors. Once operational, the Blaine center will be the sixth Red Cross blood donation center in Minnesota, joining those in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Arden Hills, Bloomington, and St. Cloud, along with 6,500 mobile blood drives each year.
Community Support Minnesotans and those in the eastern part of North and South Dakota, donate approximately 250,000 units of blood products annually, making the region one of the highest producers in the Red Cross. The new Blaine center will help ensure a stable blood supply and help prevent delays in medical treatments due to shortages.
The Red Cross is investing $2.3 million in this project and invites the community to contribute. To learn more about naming opportunities or to discuss making a gift in honor or memory of a loved one, contact Sean O’Donnell at sean.odonnell@redcross.org, or visit bitly.BlaineBloodDonationCenter
Donate Blood Right now, the Red Cross critically needs blood and platelet donors following a concerning trend over the past month – fewer donors rolling up a sleeve to give lifesaving blood. In fact, about 20,000 fewer blood donations were collected over the past month than needed to maintain the Red Cross national blood supply. To donate, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or enable the Blood Donor Skill on Alexa. All blood types are needed. Donors can save time by using RapidPass® for their pre-donation reading and health history.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Minnesota and Dakotas Red Cross region is comprised of nine community chapters and five Blood Donation Centers, the Minnesota and Dakotas Region serves more than 7.2 million people. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission.
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