American Red Cross

PEORIA, Ill. (April 29, 2008) – African American blood donors may have the unique ability to help patients with special needs. For this reason, six Peoria churches are partnering with the American Red Cross to host the Charles Drew Community Blood Donation Campaign Blood Drive on Saturday, May 3, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at New Cornerstone Baptist Church, 3609 Harmon Highway, Peoria.

The Charles Drew Community Blood Donation Campaign is an effort to increase blood donations from the African American community. The campaign is named after Dr. Charles Drew, an African American surgeon, researcher and educator, also known as the father of modern blood banking.

Maintaining a diverse blood supply is a priority to ensure all patients with special needs have the blood products necessary for their treatment.

• Types O and B, the blood types most in demand, occur in about 70 percent of African Americans.

• Rare blood types are often found in African American populations. In addition to the common ABO blood types, extremely rare antigens (proteins in blood that can stimulate antibody production) are found exclusively in the African American population.

• Although most hospital patients can receive blood transfusions from donors of any ethnicity, it is very likely that a donor within the same racial group will be a better match.

In addition to New Cornerstone Baptist Church, other area churches involved in this effort are St. Paul Baptist Church, New Morning Star Baptist Church, St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and Rising Sun Christian Church.

How to Donate Blood
Simply call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or visit givebloodgivelife.org 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. Donors must be at least 17 years old, 16 years old with a signed parent/guardian consent form, and must weigh at least 110 pounds.

About the American Red Cross
Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of nearly 1,000 Chapters and Blood Services Regions. The Red Cross is a leading supplier of blood products to hospitals nationwide and provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communication link between U.S. military members and their families, and assists victims of international disasters or conflicts.