The American Red Cross has scheduled two West Chester blood drives in September as the national blood supply remains vulnerable. The organization is seeking donors of all blood types after recovering from critically low summer levels.
A drive at Resolution Life headquarters, 1475 Dunwoody Drive, is set for Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. A second drive at WCU's Sykes Student Union, 110 W. Rosedale Ave., follows Thursday, Sept. 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., according to myChesco.
The West Chester Blood Donation Center at 1065 Andrew Drive is also accepting donors on its regular schedule: Monday through Thursday, 11:45 a.m. to 7:45 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 7:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A new incentive begins Sept. 21. Donors who give between Sept. 21 and Oct. 18 will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice. Those who donate at Red Cross blood donation centers between Sept. 21 and Sept. 30 and mention "pickleball" may also receive a custom pickleball paddle and ball while supplies last.
Through Sept. 20, donors can still pick up a Red Cross and Hello Kitty plush mascot clip and sticker pack.
The drives come after the Red Cross declared a national blood crisis in July for only the second time in its history. Summer donations fell to a four-year low, and the supply of type O positive blood dropped below a one-day supply. The organization was forced to limit type O blood distributions to hospitals. The Red Cross said the supply has since recovered from critically low levels but called it vulnerable heading into fall.
On Aug. 22, Chris Hrouda, president of Red Cross Biomedical Services, said donations were not keeping pace with hospital demand and that type O inventories remained under significant strain, as reported by Pasadena Now.
Chester County volunteer firefighter Emily Gindele, who received multiple blood transfusions after a life-threatening car crash in 2023, put the stakes in personal terms in a July 14 appeal reported by myChesco. "Without the blood transfusion, I would have died," Gindele said. "That blood gave me another chance at life."
The September campaign also marks the 85th anniversary of Dr. Charles R. Drew's appointment as the first medical director of the Red Cross Blood Program. A short documentary about Drew's life, "Iconic Excellence," is scheduled to go live Sept. 18 on the Red Cross YouTube channel.
Appointments can be made at RedCrossBlood.org, through the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
Upcoming West Chester area blood drives:
- Wednesday, Sept. 16: Resolution Life HQ, 1475 Dunwoody Drive, 8 a.m.–1 p.m.
- Thursday, Sept. 17: West Chester University, Sykes Student Union, 110 W. Rosedale Ave., 8:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
- Ongoing through Sept. 30: West Chester Blood Donation Center, 1065 Andrew Drive
