HAZLETON, Pa. — The Greater Hazleton Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association and Penn State Hazleton THON are teaming up with the American Red Cross to sponsor a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23, at Penn State Hazleton, located at 76 University Drive in Hazleton. The blood drive will be held in the Dr. Thomas M. Caccese Gymnasium.
For each presenting donor, the Red Cross will donate $4 to Penn State Hazleton THON to benefit The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.
The blood drive is open to the public. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome as time and space allow. To schedule an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code PSUHAZLETON or call 1-800-REDCROSS.
The THON blood drive comes as the Red Cross faces an urgent need for blood donors to give now to help avoid delays in lifesaving medical care for patients this winter.
This is the 14th year Penn State Hazleton THON has organized a blood drive at the campus to support their cause. THON members will assist the American Red Cross with recruiting donors on campus prior to the bloodmobile and serve as donor escorts and snack table staff during the event.
The partnership between the American Red Cross and the Penn State Dance Marathon (THON) began in 2001 to help sustain regional blood inventories.
The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, or THON for short, is the world's largest student run philanthropy, raising money for the families of pediatric cancer patients at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. Last year, THON raised $10.6 million. More than $168 million has been raised since 1977.
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.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.