We\u2019re a couple of months into 2026 \u2014 a perfect time to step up and donate blood if it\u2019s been on your to-do list. March also marks American Red Cross Month, a national observance honoring the everyday heroes who give their time, resources and blood to help others.<\/p>\n
The tradition dates back to 1943, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt first proclaimed Red Cross Month. Since then, it has celebrated the organization\u2019s volunteers and staff \u2014 from blood and platelet donors to disaster responders, CPR trainees, and those who support service members, veterans and their families.<\/p>\n
The timing matters. Early in the year often brings critical blood shortages nationwide and locally. In January, the Red Cross reported the national blood supply had dropped by about 35% in just one month. Seasonal illnesses like the flu, along with winter storms that cancel blood drives, are common contributors \u2014 and this winter has certainly delivered its share of disruptive weather.<\/p>\n
The need is constant. Every two seconds, according to the Red Cross, someone in the U.S. requires blood or platelets for surgeries, cancer treatments, traumatic injuries and other serious conditions. A single donation can help save more than one life.<\/p>\n
While about 6.8 million people donate blood each year \u2014 resulting in an estimated 13.6 million units collected \u2014 that represents only about 3% of those eligible. Donors of all blood types are needed, especially type O, which hospitals use most frequently.<\/p>\n
In Northeast Pennsylvania, opportunities to donate are plentiful, with regular community drives and mobile collections. Eligibility is straightforward: donors must generally be at least 16 years old, in good health and weigh at least 110 pounds.<\/p>\n
Throughout the year, the Wright Center for Community Health partners with the Red Cross and other groups to host blood drives. On Tuesday, March 17 \u2014 St. Patrick\u2019s Day \u2014 a drive will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the community health center in Clarks Summit (1145 Northern Blvd.). Donors who give between March 1 and March 17 can receive a commemorative Red Cross St. Patrick\u2019s Day T-shirt, while supplies last.<\/p>\n
Appointments can be scheduled by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or visiting RedCrossBlood.org and entering \u201cWright Center CS.\u201d It\u2019s a simple way to share a little luck \u2014 and a lifesaving gift \u2014 with someone in need. To learn about future blood drives at our community health centers, visit TheWrightCenter.org\/events<\/a>.<\/p>\n Beyond donating, community members can volunteer as blood donor ambassadors, welcoming and assisting donors throughout the process, or serve as transportation specialists delivering blood products to hospitals.<\/p>\n If it\u2019s been a while \u2014 or if you\u2019ve never donated \u2014 consider making this March the time you start.<\/p>\n The process is quick, safe, and impactful and the need is real.<\/p>\n Gerri McAndrew is director of development and relations for community outreach at the Wright Center and co-director of the Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement. Contact Gerri at mcandrewg@TheWrightCenter.org.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We\u2019re a couple of months into 2026 \u2014 a perfect time to step up and donate blood if…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":130157,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[178,180,179,3053,20627],"class_list":["post-130156","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-scranton","tag-scranton","tag-scranton-headlines","tag-scranton-news","tag-valley-advantage","tag-valley-advantage-community-columns"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/130156","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=130156"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/130156\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/130157"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=130156"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=130156"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=130156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}