Veterans donate during National Blood Donor Month

VA Maine Healthcare System employee Marsha Lamontange (pictured above) donating blood during their blood drive on December 19.

January is National Blood Donor Month, time to recognize the lifesaving contribution of blood and platelet donors. As we begin the New Year, VA encourages all of us to resolve to roll up a sleeve to give this month and throughout 2019.

Many VA medical centers will be holding blood drives throughout the year. Contact your local VA facility for information on their event. Here’s just a few (on some of these links, you can make an appointment):

Wilmington NC – January 2

Providence – January 2

Des Moines Friday, January 4

John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit – January 9   8-2

Cleveland VA Medical Center – Friday, February 1 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Sioux Falls January 22 6:30 – 10:30

(More below)

Every day, blood donors help patients of all ages: accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood

National Blood Donor Month has been observed in January since 1970 with the goal of increasing blood and platelet donations during winter – one of the most difficult times of year to collect enough blood products to meet patient needs.

During the winter months, inclement weather often results in canceled blood drives, and seasonal illnesses like the flu may cause some donors to become temporarily unable to donate.

Veteran Neil Caron donating blood at the VA Maine Healthcare System

Walla Walla – January 23

Loma Linda – January 18

North Las Vegas – January 18

Northport NY – February 4 – 10-4

Jesse Brown VA – Chicago Tuesday, Feb. 5

West Palm Beach Feb. 7

(More below)

Stephen Sears, Togus VA Chief of Staff: “A blood donation truly is a ‘gift of life’ that a healthy individual can give to others in their community who are sick or injured. In one hour’s time, a person can donate one unit of blood that can be separated into four individual components that could help save multiple lives.  During this holiday season give the gift of blood—it can be truly life-saving for those in need.”

Tomah, Wisconsin January 17

Fargo, North Dakota – February 20

Philadelphia February 22

Spokane, Washington – January 8

(Community Hospital of the Year in 2016 for support of blood drives.)

White River Junction, Vermont – March 25

Battle Creek, Michigan – January 8

Milwaukee – January 9

Charleston, South Carolina – February 20

Augusta, Maine – February 12

A special thanks to Megan Kon, Public Affairs Officer, VA Maine Healthcare System, for the photos and all the other great Public Affairs Officers who sent in their information.