MILWAUKEE, Wis. (July 7, 2022) – The American Red Cross and Discovery are partnering for Shark Week and invite people to dive in to help save lives by giving blood or platelets in July. The Red Cross saw a steep drop in blood and platelet donations last month, and donors are asked to make appointments now to prevent a blood shortage this summer.

In June, the Red Cross collected approximately 12% fewer blood donations than needed – one of the largest monthly blood donation shortfalls in recent years. While the Wisconsin area saw a decline in expected donations it was not as severe as the national average. When less people answer the call to donate, the blood supply shrinks – and that could mean blood products aren’t ready for hospital staff to reach for in emergencies.

Thanks to Discovery, all who come to give blood or platelets in July will automatically be entered for a chance to win an exclusive Shark Week merchandise package that includes:

• Beach bike
• Smokeless portable fire pit
• Paddle board
• Kayak
• $500 gift card to put toward accessories

Those who come to give July 21-24 will get an exclusive Shark Week T-shirt from Discovery, while supplies last. Details are available at rcblood.org/sharkweek.

By making and keeping blood and platelet donation appointments in July, donors can connect with patients through a lifesaving gift. To book a time to give, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Upcoming blood donation opportunities July 7-31:
WI

Dodge

Ashippun

7/11/2022: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Ashippun Town Hall, W1266 Hwy O

Fox Lake

7/21/2022: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Fox Lake Correctional, W10237 Lake Emily Rd

Iron Ridge

7/7/2022: 1:45 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Michael’s Lutheran Church, N4911 Gray Road

Juneau

7/19/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Juneau Community Center, 500 Lincoln

Lomira

8/5/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., St Andrews, W3081 Co Rd Y

Mayville

7/12/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Mayville Hometown Pharmacy, 1448 Horicon Street

Waupun

7/7/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Edgewood Church, 201 Edgewood Dr

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Fond du Lac

Brandon

7/19/2022: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bethel Reformed Church, 305 W Main St

Fond du Lac

7/13/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., The Commonwealth Companies, 24 S Brooke St

7/21/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, 625 W Rolling Meadows Dr

7/22/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Fond Du Lac Public Library, 32 Sheboygan St.

7/26/2022: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., American Legion, 500 Fond du Lac Ave

7/26/2022: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Legion, 500 Fond du Lac Ave

Oakfield

7/8/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Oakfield Community Center, 130 N Main St

Ripon

7/11/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Ripon High School, 850 Tiger Dr

8/4/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Royal Ridges, 1 Westgate Drive

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Jefferson

Fort Atkinson

7/22/2022: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Dwight Foster Public Library, 209 Merchants Ave

Ixonia

7/21/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., St Pauls Lutheran School, W1956 Gopher Hill Rd.

Johnson Creek

7/19/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, W4095 County Rd B

Lake Mills

8/2/2022: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., City Hall, 200 Water St

Watertown

7/8/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Watertown Senior & Community Center, 514 S. First Street

7/27/2022: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1611 E Main St

8/5/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Watertown Senior & Community Center, 514 S. First Street

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Kenosha

Bristol

7/15/2022: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Crossway Community Church, 13905 75th St

Kenosha

7/22/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., The Brat Stop, 12304 75th st

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Milwaukee

Brown Deer

7/29/2022: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church, 8635 N 60th St.

Cudahy

7/21/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Prime Financial Credit Union, 5656 S Packard Ave

8/2/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Cudahy Family Library, 3500 Library Drive

Greendale

7/13/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., The Hose Tower, 5699 Parking St

7/20/2022: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Day of Donations at Southridge Mall, 5300 S 76th St

Milwaukee

7/7/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Radisson Milwaukee West, 2303 North Mayfair Road

7/8/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., American Red Cross in Southeast WI, 2600 W Wisconsin Ave

7/12/2022: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Indeed Brewing Company and Taproom, 530 S. 2nd St

7/15/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., East Library Milwaukee Public Library, 2320 N Cramer Street

7/18/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Kellys Bleachers, 5218 W Bluemound Rd

7/19/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Lutheran Chapel of the Cross, 3353 S. Whitnall

7/28/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Schlitz Park, 1555 N River Center Dr

Oak Creek

7/26/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Oak Creek Community Center, 8580 S. Howell  Ave

8/4/2022: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Nucor Cold Finish, 7200 S 6th St

West Allis

7/22/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., West Allis City Hall, 7525 W. Greenfield Ave.

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Ozaukee

Fredonia

7/15/2022: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Fredonia Government Center, 242 Fredonia Ave

Mequon

7/21/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Frank L Weyenberg Library, 11345 N Cedarburg Rd.

Saukville

7/25/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., A Place to Be Spirituality Center, 166 W Dekora St

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Racine

Burlington

7/8/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Bella Vita Banquet Hall, 34816 Geneva Rd

Waterford

7/13/2022: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Legacy Realty Group, 401 N Milwaukee St #1

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Sheboygan

Plymouth

7/7/2022: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, N5990 Country Aire Rd

Sheboygan

7/8/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

7/15/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

7/22/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

7/29/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

8/1/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Mead Public Library, 710 N. 8th St.

8/5/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

Sheboygan Falls

7/20/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Berkshire Community Gym, 101 School St.

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Walworth

East Troy

7/18/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., East Troy Bible Church, 2660 North St -Hwy 20

Elkhorn

8/3/2022: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Elkhorn Area High School, 482 E Geneva St

Lake Geneva

7/14/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Mt Zion Christian Church, 2330 WI-120

Walworth

8/4/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Big Foot High School, 401 Devils Ln

Whitewater

7/22/2022: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Cravath Lakefront Community Center, 341 S Fremont Street

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Washington

Germantown

7/11/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Boniface Parish, W204 N11940 Goldendale Rd

Jackson

7/12/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Still Waters Community United Methodist Church, 3617 Scenic Rd

7/27/2022: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Jackson Community Center, N165 W20330 Hickory Ln

West Bend

7/28/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Masonic Lodge, 301 N University Dr

8/3/2022: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., West Bend City Hall, 1115 S Main Street

8/3/2022: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., West Bend City Hall, 1115 S Main Street

_______________

Waukesha

Brookfield

7/18/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Sendik’s Towne Centre, 18905 W Capitol Dr, Suite C101

7/19/2022: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Bishops Woods Office Park, 375 Bishops Way

7/20/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Herzing University, 15895 W. Bluemound Road

7/27/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel, 375 S Moorland Road

7/29/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sendik’s Towne Centre, 18905 W Capitol Dr, Suite C101

Hartland

7/22/2022: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Hartland Public Library, 110 E Park Ave

7/28/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Batteries Plus Bulbs, 1325 Walnut Ridge Dr

7/29/2022: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Oakwood Church, 3041 Oakwood Rd

8/5/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Hartland Public Library, 110 E Park Ave

Menomonee Falls

8/1/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., American Legion Post 382, N88 W16652 Main St

Merton

7/26/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Johns United Church of Christ, N67 W28321 Sussex Road

Mukwonago

7/25/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Hillside Community Church, S93 W30580 County Road NN

Nashotah

7/13/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., MSI General, W215 E. Wisconsin Ave

New Berlin

7/15/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., OAW Indoor Sports Complex, 5330 S Racine Ave

7/26/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., WeatherStone Church, 1500 S. West Lane

8/1/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., New Berlin Public Library, 15105 Library Ln

8/3/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Seventh Day Adventist Church, 21380 W Cleveland Avenue

Oconomowoc

7/25/2022: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Lake Country DockHounds Wisconsin Brewing Company Park, 1011 Blue Ribbon Circle N.

7/29/2022: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., YMCA at Pabst Farms, 1750 Valley Rd

Pewaukee

7/14/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

7/21/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

7/26/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Queen of Apostles Church, N35W23360 Capitol Drive

7/28/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

8/1/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., The Ingleside Hotel, 2810 Golf Road

8/4/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

Sussex

7/12/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Pauline Haass Public Library, N64 W23820 Main St

Waukesha

7/11/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Raised Grain Brewing Company, 1725 Dolphin Drive

8/4/2022: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Northwestern Mutual Waukesha, N14W23833 Stone Ridge Dr

Blood drive safety 

The Red Cross follows a high standard of safety and infection control. The Red Cross will continue to socially distance wherever possible at blood drives, donation centers and facilities. While donors are no longer required to wear a face mask, individuals may choose to continue to wear a mask for any reason. The Red Cross will also adhere to more stringent face mask requirements per state and/or local guidance, or at the request of blood drive sponsors. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at a drive.

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

Amplify Your Impact − Volunteer!

Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross is to become a volunteer blood donor ambassador at Red Cross blood drives. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check-in and thank blood donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience.

Volunteers can also serve as transportation specialists, playing a vital role in ensuring lifesaving blood products are delivered to nearby hospitals. For more information and to apply for a either position, visit https://www.redcross.org/volunteertoday.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.