American Red Cross Seeks Blood, Platelet Donors In SWR

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — American Red Cross officials are asking Riverside County residents to step up and give back to the community in the form of blood donations. The agency said this week they are seeing "people of all races and ethnicities to give blood or platelets to help increase the diversity of the blood supply."

"The vast majority of blood types fall into one of the major blood groups," the Red Cross said in a news release. "However, for patients with rare blood types or those who receive regular blood transfusions, blood must be matched closely – beyond the primary A, B, O and AB blood types – to reduce the risk of developing complications from transfusion therapy. The best match may be someone of the same racial or ethnic group."

For those who donate locally in the next month, you'll be entered for a chance to win one of five $500 'Tango Card' gift cards redeemable at hundreds of merchants, the Red Cross said.

To donate, you can make an appointment by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Riverside County from Sept. 23 through Oct. 15:

Anza
10/7/2019: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Hamilton High School, 57430 Mitchell Road

Canyon Lake
9/29/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Canyon Lake Lodge, 22200 Canyon Club Drive

Corona
10/7/2019: 1:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Corona Regional Medical Center, 800 S Main Street
10/10/2019: 7 a.m. - 1 p.m., Signature Sales, 2740 Palisades Dr

Menifee
9/25/2019: 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m., Mt. San Jacinto Community College, 28237 La Piedra Rd

Moreno Valley
10/10/2019: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m., Moreno Valley Community Adult School, 13350 Indian Street

Murrieta
10/4/2019: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Rancho Springs Medical Center, 25520 Medical Dr
10/13/2019: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Los Alamos Hills Sports Park, 36700 Ruth Ellen Way

Perris
9/23/2019: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Val Verde High School, 972 Morgan Street

Riverside
9/24/2019: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Platt College, 6465 Sycamore Canyon Blvd
10/1/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., County of Riverside Department of Child Support Services, 2001 Iowa Ave
10/1/2019: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., American Red Cross Riverside Chapter, 6235 Rivercrest Drive Suite A
10/3/2019: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., La Sierra University Student Center, 4500 Riverwalk Parkway
10/12/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., American Red Cross Riverside Chapter, 6235 Rivercrest Drive Suite A
10/14/2019: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Riverside Community Hospital, 4445 Magnolia Ave

San Jacinto
9/30/2019: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Mount San Jacinto College, 1499 N State St

Temecula
9/28/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Nothing Bundt Cakes, 27540 Ynez Rd., # J1
9/29/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Walmart, 32225 Hwy 79 South
9/30/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Bank of America, 27489 Ynez Rd