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04/28/2015

Final Blood Drive Set for April 29

For college students, springtime brings on flowers, Frisbees, finals and one last opportunity before leaving campus to donate a pint of blood to help save lives and assist people in need.

The final American Red Cross (ARC) blood drive of the year at SUNY Cortland, sponsored by Code Red, will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, in the Corey Union Function Room.

Tomorrow’s drive has a goal of 107 units of blood.

Student volunteers today are signing up donors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Old Main and from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Student Life Center.

Those interested in making a donation are encouraged to call 1-800-REDCROSS or visit www.redcrossblood.org to make an appointment, which assures a shorter wait the day of the event. Walk-ins also are welcome.

A free Red Cross Blood Donor App is available by texting “BLOODAPP” to 90999 or downloading it from the App StoreSM or the Google PlayTM store.

The winter’s cold and ice kept many of the usual campus and community blood donors away from SUNY Blood Drive sites and now the ARC is lining up willing volunteers to make up for the shortfall, according to representatives.

“No matter what season it is, the need for blood is constant,” said Cara Leyna Noble, external communications manager for the American Red Cross New York-Penn Blood Services Region. “There are cancer patients, heart transplant patients, burn victims and so many other hospital patients who rely on generous blood and platelet donors each and every day.”

The March storms forced the cancellation of more than 200 blood drives, resulting in nearly 7,000 uncollected blood donations. Currently, the region’s blood supply is stable, but donors still are needed.

“We appreciate all the hard work and amazing support SUNY Cortland provides for patients in need by hosting Red Cross blood drives,” Noble said. “Donors of all blood types are encouraged to roll up a sleeve and give blood to help ensure lifesaving blood products are available for patients now and into the summer months.”