Make a Donation Before Your Vacation;
O Negative Blood Currently Low at the
Red Cross
News Release: June 7, 2010
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing
American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 830-9771


The American Red Cross invites eligible blood donors to give blood before leaving on vacation this summer.

The need for donations applies especially to those with O negative blood. With the summer upon us, the supply of type O negative blood at the American Red Cross has dropped significantly and is currently low. While all blood types are needed during the critical summer months, type O negative is always in high demand because it can be transfused to patients with any blood type, especially in emergency situations.

"It is important for eligible donors with blood type O negative to make and keep appointments to give blood this summer," says Sharon Kendig, branch manager for the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

The American Red Cross will collect blood at the following locations in June:

  • Tuesday, June 22, from 1 - 6 p.m., at Mahoning Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 397 Hemlock Drive, Lehighton.

  • Monday, June 28, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., at Subway Restaurant, 44 Blakeslee Boulevard Dr., Lehighton (free cookies and juice to be provided by Subway Restaurant).

  • Wednesday, June 30, from 1 - 6 p.m., at Jim Thorpe Memorial Hall, 101 East 10th Street, Jim Thorpe.

  • Wednesday, June 30, from 2 - 6 p.m., at Palmerton Borough Hall, 443 Delaware Avenue, Palmerton.


    All presenting donors in the month of June 2010 are eligible to enter for the drawing to win one of a number of prize packs:

  • Admission tickets to Shawnee Playhouse

  • Admission tickets to Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park

  • Winter season tickets (2010/2011) to Jack Frost Big Boulder

  • One-night stay including breakfast for two at Chateau Resort

  • One-night stay at Shadowbrook Inn & Resort and dinner for two at Bogey's Bar & Grille

  • Admission tickets to the ride and museum at Lackawanna County Electric City Trolley Station & Museum

  • Two-day/one-night stay at any of the three Coven Haven Entertainment Resorts with two full-course meals included

  • One-night stay with complimentary hot breakfast for the Nichols Village Hotel and Spa.

    To donate blood and platelets through the American Red Cross, individuals must be at least 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in general good health. In Pennsylvania, 16-year-olds may donate blood provided they bring a signed parental consent form to the blood drive. Parental consent forms can be obtained from local high schools prior to the blood drives or directly from nursing supervisors at Red Cross drives. High school students and donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.

    To make an appointment, or for more information, call the American Red Cross at 1-800-432-8045 or visit online at redcrossblood.org.

    About Subway

    The SUBWAY Restaurant chain is the world's largest submarine sandwich franchise, with more than 32,000 locations in 91 countries. Based in Milford, Conn., and with regional offices in Amsterdam, Beirut, Brisbane, Miami, and Singapore, SUBWAY was co-founded by Fred DeLuca and Dr. Peter Buck in 1965. SUBWAY was ranked the #1 Franchise Opportunity and the #1 Global Franchise Opportunity in the 2010 edition of Entrepreneur magazine's 'Annual Franchise 500', an honor that SUBWAY has received 17 times in the past 23 years. Visit www.subway.com or www.subwayfreshbuzz.com. SUBWAY is a registered trademark of Doctor's Associates Inc.


    About the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley

    The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross helped more than 70,000 people through preparedness and training, military personnel support, senior lifesaving programs and services, emergency relief and information and referral. The Red Cross is a charitable organization - not a government agency - and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.