Become a lifesaving volunteer by giving blood or platelets with Red Cross

Celebrate National Volunteer Month; come to give for exclusive Red Cross T-shirt through April 30

American Red Cross Press Release

During National Volunteer Month in April, the American Red Cross asks donors to help keep the blood supply stable by making an appointment to give blood or platelets now. Type O blood and platelets are especially needed to ensure hospitals are fully stocked with lifesaving blood products this spring.

The Red Cross depends on thousands of volunteer donors to collect more than 12,000 blood donations and about 3,000 platelet donations every single day. Blood drives and donation centers also depend on the generosity and valuable time of those who make it possible for the Red Cross to help people in need.

As spring travel and activities fill calendars, volunteer blood donations remain essential to critical medical care. Book a time to give blood or platelets now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS, or by using the Red Cross blood donor app.

All who come to give through April 30 will get an exclusive Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last, plus be automatically entered for a chance to win a $5,000 prize. There will be three winners. See RedCrossBlood.org/Hope.

All who come to give May 1-18 will get a $20 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. Plus, throughout May, those who come to give will be automatically entered to win a U.S. trip of choice for two. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/May.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities April 17-May 5:

Erie County

•Amherst

April 29: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., University at Buffalo North Student Union, 50 Lee Road

April 30: 1-6 p.m., Main Transit Fire Department, 6777 Main St.

•Buffalo

April 19: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Kenilworth Fire Department Co. No. 1, 84 Hawthorne Ave.

April 21: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., University at Buffalo South Harriman Hall, 3435 Main St.

April 23: 12:30-5:30 p.m., Kenilworth Fire Department Co. No. 1, 84 Hawthorne Ave.

May 1: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Buffalo State University Buckham Hall, 1300 Elmwood Ave.

•Elma

April 24: 1-6 p.m., Faith Lutheran Church, 1230 Bowen Road

•Getzville

April 29: 1-6 p.m., St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church Father Weber Center, 1700 N. French Road

•Grand Island

April 19: 8 a.m. to noon, Grand Island Community Center, 3278 Whitehaven Road

•Kenmore

April 30: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kenmore Mercy Hospital, 2950 Elmwood Ave.

•Orchard Park

April 18: noon-5:30 p.m., Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School, S3148 Abbott Road

April 18: 1-6 p.m., St. Bernadette's Roman Catholic Church, 5930 S. Abbott Road

•Tonawanda

May 3: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Church of the Nativity, 1530 Colvin Blvd.

Niagara County

•Lewiston

April 23: 1:30-6:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 505 Cayuga St.

•Lockport

April 23: 1-6 p.m., South Lockport Fire Co. Inc., South Lockport Firehall, 5666 Transit Road

•Middleport

April 28: noon-5 p.m., Middleport Firehall, 28 Main St.

•Newfane

April 21: 12:30-6 p.m., Newfane Town Hall Community Center, 2737 Main St.

•Niagara Falls

April 26: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church, Grace Lutheran Church, 736 Cayuga Drive