MILWAUKEE, Wis. (April 20, 2023) – April is National Minority Health Month — a time to raise awareness about health disparities that disproportionately affect racially and ethnically diverse populations. It’s also a time to encourage action through access to care by inspiring people to give blood or platelets.

The American Red Cross is reminding blood and platelet donors it’s vital to make and keep donation appointments this month to ensure shelves are fully stocked with blood products all season long. With blood transfusions remaining one of the most critical treatments for patients − like those facing pregnancy and childbirth complications, and those with chronic illnesses like sickle cell disease − donors can connect patients to lifesaving care.

Having a diverse blood supply is one way to ensure all patients have ongoing access to compatible blood transfusions. To make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

People coming together to care for one another is the humanitarian spirit shared by the Red Cross community and PEANUTS®.  All who come to give by April 23 will get an exclusive Red Cross and PEANUTS Snoopy T-shirt, while supplies last. Plus, through April 30, those who come to give will be automatically entered for a chance to win a three-night trip for two to Sonoma County, California, courtesy of Peanuts Worldwide. Details are available at rcblood.org/cool.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities, April 20-30:

WI

Dodge

Beaver Dam

4/25/2023: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Beaver Dam High School, 500 Gould St

5/5/2023: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Mittera Wisconsin, 555 Beichl Ave

5/11/2023: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., YMCA of Dodge County, 220 Corporate Dr

5/15/2023: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 311 W Mackie St

5/16/2023: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 311 W Mackie St

Horicon

4/26/2023: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Horicon High School, 841 Gray St

Juneau

5/17/2023: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Dodgeland High School, 401 S Western Ave

Lomira

4/24/2023: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 300 Church ST

Mayville

5/10/2023: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Mayville Hometown Pharmacy, 1448 Horicon Street

Watertown

5/1/2023: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, N554 County Road R

Waupun

5/11/2023: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Edgewood Church, 201 Edgewood Dr

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Fond du Lac

Eden

5/19/2023: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Eden Fire Department, 104 Pine St

Fond du Lac

4/26/2023: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., St Mary’s Springs High School, 255 Cty Rd K

5/3/2023: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Moraine Park Tech Coll, 235 N National Ave

5/17/2023: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Thrive Church, 79 E 2nd St

Oakfield

5/5/2023: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Oakfield Community Center, 130 N Main St

Rosendale

5/16/2023: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Peace Lutheran Church, 124 S Main St

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Jefferson

Fort Atkinson

4/26/2023: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Madison College Fort Atkinson, 827 Banker Rd.

Ixonia

5/18/2023: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., St Pauls Ixonia, W1955 Gopher Hill Rd.

Jefferson

5/18/2023: 2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., East Elementary School, 120 S Sanborn Ave

Johnson Creek

4/20/2023: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center, 417 Union St

5/3/2023: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Johnson Creek Public Library, 125 Lincoln St.

Watertown

5/3/2023: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Watertown Senior & Community Center, 514 S. First Street

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Milwaukee

Milwaukee

4/28/2023: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Southside Church of Christ, 1933 W Grange Ave

5/1/2023: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Lakefront Brewery, 1872 N Commerce St

5/4/2023: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Broken Bat Brewing Co, 135 E Pittsburgh Ave

5/5/2023: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Marquette Gymnasium, 1508 W. Clybourn Street

5/10/2023: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., MobCraft Beer Brewery and Taproom, 505 S 5th St

5/10/2023: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., OPE Brewing Co, 6751 W National Ave

River Hills

5/2/2023: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., St Christophers Episcopal Church, 7845 N River Rd

Wauwatosa

4/20/2023: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Current Electric Co, 2942 N 117th St.

West Allis

5/16/2023: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Nathan Hale High School, 11601 W Lincoln Ave

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Ozaukee

Fredonia

5/12/2023: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., St. John Lutheran Church, 824 Fredonia Ave

Port Washington

4/25/2023: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Matthew Lutheran Church, 1525 N Grant St

5/10/2023: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., WJ Niederkorn Library, 316 W Grand Ave.

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Racine

Sturtevant

5/5/2023: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., REAL School, 10116 Stellar Ave

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Sheboygan

Plymouth

5/11/2023: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, N5990 Country Aire Rd

Sheboygan

4/21/2023: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

4/28/2023: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

5/5/2023: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

5/12/2023: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Etude Group, 830 Virginia Ave

5/12/2023: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

5/19/2023: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

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Walworth

East Troy

5/15/2023: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., East Troy Bible Church, 2660 North St -Hwy 20

Elkhorn

4/27/2023: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sugar Creek Lutheran Church, N5690 Cobblestone Rd

Lake Geneva

4/24/2023: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Badger High School, 220 E South St

5/19/2023: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Como Community Church, W3901 Palmer Road

Sharon

5/2/2023: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Christ Lutheran Church, 228 Martin St

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Washington

Germantown

5/16/2023: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Boniface Parish, W204 N11940 Goldendale Rd

Hartford

5/15/2023: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Dave’s Lanes, 218 N Main St

Kewaskum

4/26/2023: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Kewaskum High School, 1510 Bilgo Ln

West Bend

5/3/2023: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., American Legion Post 36, 712 Park Ave.

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Waukesha

Brookfield

5/9/2023: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., City of Brookfield, 2100 N Calhoun Rd

5/10/2023: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel, 375 S Moorland Road

5/11/2023: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Sendik’s Towne Centre, 18905 W Capitol Dr, Suite C101

Hartland

4/21/2023: 7:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Arrowhead High School, 800 North Ave

4/27/2023: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Swallow School, W299 N5614 County Road E

4/28/2023: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Hartland Public Library, 110 E Park Ave

5/5/2023: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Oakwood Church, 3041 Oakwood Rd

5/18/2023: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Zion Lutheran Church and School, 1023 E Capitol Drive

Menomonee Falls

5/3/2023: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., American Legion Post 382, N88 W16652 Main St

Muskego

4/26/2023: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Muskego Circle Community Center, S63 W13694 Janesville Rd

Nashotah

5/16/2023: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., MSI General, W215 E. Wisconsin Ave

New Berlin

4/27/2023: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Living Word Church, 21401 W. National Avenue

5/11/2023: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Ronald Reagan Elementary School, 4225 S Calhoun Rd

5/12/2023: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., New Berlin Public Library, 15105 Library Ln

5/17/2023: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., New Berlin Public Library, 15105 Library Ln

5/19/2023: 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., New Berlin West Middle and High School, 18695 W Cleveland Ave

Oconomowoc

4/28/2023: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Oconomowoc Public Library, 200 W South St

5/3/2023: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Stone Bank Elementary School, N68 W33866 County Rd K

5/13/2023: 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Mike Hogan Memorial Blood Drive at First Congregation United Church of Christ, 815 Concord Rd

Pewaukee

4/20/2023: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

4/21/2023: 8:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Waukesha Platelet Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

4/23/2023: 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., Waukesha Platelet Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

4/24/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m., Waukesha Platelet Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

4/25/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m., Waukesha Platelet Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

4/25/2023: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, W240 N3103 Pewaukee Rd

4/26/2023: 9:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Waukesha Platelet Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

4/27/2023: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

4/28/2023: 8:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Waukesha Platelet Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

4/30/2023: 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., Waukesha Platelet Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

5/1/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Waukesha Platelet Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

5/2/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Waukesha Platelet Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

5/3/2023: 9:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Waukesha Platelet Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

5/4/2023: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

5/4/2023: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills, N36W24130 Pewaukee Rd, PO Box 802

5/5/2023: 8:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Waukesha Platelet Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

5/8/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Waukesha Platelet Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

5/9/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Waukesha Platelet Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

5/10/2023: 9:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Waukesha Platelet Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

5/11/2023: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

5/12/2023: 8:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Waukesha Platelet Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

5/15/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Waukesha Platelet Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

5/16/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Waukesha Platelet Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

5/17/2023: 9:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Waukesha Platelet Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

5/18/2023: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

5/19/2023: 8:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Waukesha Platelet Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

Sussex

4/25/2023: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., The Prestwick Group, W248 N5499 Executive Dr

5/19/2023: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Hamilton High School, W220 N6151 Town Line Rd

Wales

4/28/2023: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Kettle Moraine High School, 349 N Oak Crest Dr

Waukesha

5/1/2023: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Raised Grain Brewing Company, 1725 Dolphin 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 either position, visit https://www.redcross.org/local/wisconsin/volunteer.html

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.

About Peanuts: 

The characters of Peanuts and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide, which is 41% owned by WildBrain Ltd., 39% owned by Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and 20% owned by the family of Charles M. Schulz, who first introduced the world to Peanuts in 1950, when the comic strip debuted in seven newspapers. Since then, Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang have made an indelible mark on popular culture. In addition to enjoying beloved Peanuts shows and specials on Apple TV+, fans of all ages celebrate the Peanuts brand worldwide through thousands of consumer products, as well as amusement park attractions, cultural events, social media, and comic strips available in all formats, from traditional to digital. In 2018, Peanuts partnered with NASA on a multi-year Space Act Agreement designed to inspire a passion for space exploration and STEM among the next generation of students.

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.