WS Chronicle

Special to The Chronicle

The American Red Cross seeks eligible donors to give blood in honor of World Blood Donor Day, June 14, and throughout the summer to help ensure a sufficient blood supply for patients in need.

Summer is an especially difficult time to collect enough blood to meet the needs of hospital patients. Many schools that host blood drives are out of session during the summer, and regular donors are often vacationing, potentially making them less available to give.

World Blood Donor Day highlights the constant need for donors – during the summer and throughout the year.

Supermodel Niki Taylor, the celebrity spokesperson for World Blood Donor Day, fully understands the importance of blood donations. In 2001, she was in a near-fatal car accident and received about 100 pints of blood. To this day, she attributes her survival to the blood donors and doctors who helped save her life.

Those who come to donate blood with the Red Cross Monday through Sunday, June 8-14, will receive a limited-edition Nexcare give bandage in one of eight global-inspired designs in honor of World Blood Donor Day.

Eligible donors are encouraged to choose their day to make a difference. Donors of all blood types – especially those with types O negative, A negative and B negative – are needed.

To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

American Red Cross Blood Donation Center:
Winston-Salem Blood Donation Center
650 Coliseum Drive, Winston-Salem

Blood donation hours
Monday: 1:30 – 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday: 12:30 – 5:30 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Sunday: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Platelet donation hours
Monday and Tuesday: 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.; Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; Thursday: 7 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities
Forsyth County:

• Clemmons, June 10 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Trinity Elms, 3750 Harper Road

• Kernersville, June 1 from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at Kernersville Wesleyan Church-Family Life Center, 930 N. Main St.

• Winston-Salem, June 4 from 3 to 7:30 p.m. at Reynolda Church, 2200 Reynolda Road; June 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Trinity Moravian Church, 220 E. Sprague St.; June 8 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at William G. White Jr. Family YMCA, 775 W. End Blvd.; June 11 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Wake Forest Baptist Health, 1920 W. 1st St.; June 11 from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Wake Forest Baptist Health, Medical Center Blvd.; June 12 from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Wake Forest Baptist Health, Medical Center Blvd.; June 14 from 12:30 to 5 p.m. at Friedberg Moravian Church, 2178 Friedberg Church Road